The back-to-school season always has the same routine, like checking school email, grabbing last year's backpack, figuring out what still fits, and creating a long school supply list.
However, adding pencils and notebooks isn't the only thing you should do on your back-to-school list. In order to get through a hectic school day, students also require other daily school essentials, hygiene products, and lunch supplies.
As parents, this is the perfect time to make a better decision. Compostable products might be helpful for school functions, packed meals, and in situations where reusable alternatives are not feasible.
In this blog, we'll cover the back-to-school essentials that every student might require, including lunch, personal hygiene products, as well as classroom supplies. To avoid buying extra things your child already has, you should prepare a back-to-school checklist to organise your shopping
What Should Be on a Back-to-School List?
The complete back-to-school list should include items for the classroom supplies, school lunch essentials, personal hygiene essentials, and daily school essentials.
Your child's age, grade, and educational needs will determine the exact school supply list. Before purchasing, always follow the official list provided by the teacher or school
Here is a basic list to start with:
- Backpack
- Pencil case
- Pens and Pencils
- Erasers and pencil sharpener
- Notebooks and composition books
- Folders and binders
- Crayons, colored pencils, or markers
- Glue and scissors
- Ruler
- Calculator, if required
- Lunch box or food containers
- Water bottle
- Reusable utensils
- Napkins
- Hand sanitizer
- Tissues
- Personal hygiene products
- Shoe cleaning wipes
- Sports or activity gear
- Any grade-specific supplies
A smart shopping tip is to empty last year's school bag and see what is still usable before purchasing anything new. It's possible that you already have additional pencils, perfectly acceptable folders, notebooks with unused pages, or a lunchbox for another school year.
Quick Back-to-School Checklist
Need a quick back-to-school checklist before heading to the store? Save this one.
School Supplies
- Backpack
- Pencil case
- Pencils
- Pens
- Erasers
- Pencil sharpener
- Notebooks
- Folders
- Binders
- Loose-leaf paper
- Ruler
- Glue
- Scissors
- Crayons
- Colored pencils
- Markers
- Highlighters
- Calculator, if needed
School Lunch Essentials
- Lunch box or bag
- Food containers
- Water bottle
- Reusable utensils
- Napkins
- Ice pack
- Snacks
- Lunch or meal containers for special events
School Hygiene Essentials
- Hand sanitizer
- Tissues
- Personal wipes
- Deodorant wipes
- Lip balm
- Period products, if needed
- Hairbrush or comb
- Shoe wipes
- Spare clothes for younger children
The Complete Back-to-School Checklist by Category
A successful school year is not all about the pens and pencils. If you have a school shopping list, it can be easier to determine what your child truly needs and what you can reuse from the previous year.
1. Classroom & School Supply List Essentials
When making a back-to-school list, parents typically start with classroom supplies.
Each grade will have different requirements. Middle and high school kids could require binders, calculators, subject-specific equipment, etc, while younger children might require crayons, coloured markers, pencils, glue, and kid-safe scissors.
Here is a basic supplies list for school:
- Backpack
- Pencil case
- Pencils
- Pens
- Erasers
- Pencil sharpener
- Notebooks
- Composition books
- Folders
- Binders
- Loose-leaf paper
- Index cards
- Ruler
- Glue sticks
- Scissors
- Crayons
- Colored pencils
- Markers
- Highlighters
- Calculator
- Planner
2. School Lunch Essentials That Cut Down on Waste
A significant amount of daily waste adds up at lunch for many families. Food packaging, single-use drink containers, paper napkins, plastic cutlery, and throwaway snack bags are all common components of a school lunch. The good news? Your child's lunch routine can be made more sensible and less wasteful with a few minor adjustments.
Checklist of Essentials for School Lunches
- Lunch box or insulated lunch bag
- Reusable food containers
- Reusable water bottle
- Reusable utensils
- Napkin
- Snacks
- Main meal
-
Fruits
Pack Lunches in Reusable Containers
Reusable containers are a practical first option for regular school meals. They can be used all year long and are simple to wash.
Select containers that your youngster can open on their own. For smaller kids who might not have much time to eat, this is especially crucial.
When Disposable Options Make Sense
Reusable items aren't always useful.
Serving meals to a large number of people at once may be necessary for school fundraisers, classroom parties, field trips, sports days and other big events. Compostable disposables can be a practical substitute for traditional single-use plastic products in these situations.
For instance, parents or school groups holding an event might think about:
- Compostable Clamshells that can be used for packing leftover food
- Bagasse Plates can be used for serving food
- Compostable Bagasse Bowls that can be used for serving meals or snacks
- Compostable cups like PLA can be used in place of plastic cups
- Serve coffee, tea, and other hot liquids in compostable hot cups
School canteens that want quick food service choices for hectic lunch periods or special events may also find this useful.
For everyday routine, you can use reusable products. When disposables are required, you can choose compostable options. Finding the perfect product is less important than choosing the best solution for the right situation.
School Hygiene Essentials
School days are hectic for children. They touch shared surfaces, run around, eat snacks, play sports, and manage to get dirt on nearly everything they possess.
For this reason, hygiene products should have their own place on your list of necessities for school.
Basic School Hygiene Essentials
- Hand sanitizer
- Tissues
- Personal wipes
- Deodorant, for older students
- Lip balm
- Hairbrush or comb
- Hair ties
- Period products
- Spare clothes for younger children
- Shoe cleaning wipes
Don't forget the shoes. School shoes have gone through a lot.
It can be difficult to keep a pair of school shoes looking good due to muddy streets, playground dust, or any unforeseen spills during lunch.
A student's sports or hygiene backpack may benefit from a pack of shoe wipes. When you don't have time for a thorough wash, they're very helpful for fast cleanups.
Keeping wipes in their backpack or locker might facilitate rapid cleanups for older children who travel between classrooms, athletic practices, and after-school activities.
Conclusion
A new school year doesn't have to mean starting from scratch.
The best back-to-school checklist is one that covers what your child actually needs, from classroom supplies and lunch essentials to everyday hygiene products, while avoiding needless purchases.
Reuse what you already have; choose durable products when buying new; pack everyday lunches in reusable containers; and consider compostable tableware for school events and food service when disposables are required. Most importantly, your back to school checklist work for your family.