No matter how old you are, summer always seems to fly by. Now that it’s July, my kids are already halfway through their summer break, so I’ve got back to school shopping on my mind. As a kid, I loved getting new school supplies — and I still love it as an adult!
The big difference now is that I order school supplies online to save time and find better deals. But there’s still that satisfying feeling of checking off the items on your school supplies list. Or rather, your kids school supplies list. 😂
While back to school shopping is fun, it can also feel a little overwhelming with everything you need to buy and get done — while still trying to enjoy the last bit of summer. So my goal is to make it easier for parents with a ready-to-go school supplies list and some tips to help you feel more prepared for the new school year.
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Save Now and Skip the Last-Minute Stress
Typically I like to get my kids classroom supplies during Amazon Prime Day. If you’re a prime member, you can usually find discounts on school supplies, and they also offer deals on their own brands.
Amazon prices can fluctuate though, so that’s where I come in! I spend a TON of time getting ready for Amazon Prime Day so I can share the best deals with you — and that includes school supplies, kids backpacks, and more. I also try to keep it practical (and fun!) by sharing only the essentials along with my family’s absolute favorites.
Here are some other reasons I encourage parents to do their back to school shopping early:
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Find better deals: Many stores (not just Amazon!) start running big sales on back to school supplies and clothes in July
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Stick to your budget: You can spread your spending out instead of doing one big purchase in August (just keep in mind that the deals might change, too)
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Avoid the last-minute stress: Your kids can help pick out what they want for back to school, and there’s no rush to get it all done by yourself
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Choose from a better selection: There will be plenty of items in stock, so there’s no worry of not getting the school supplies you (or your kids) want
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Reduce your mental load: You’ve got plenty of other tasks on your back to school list, so getting this one done will feel amazing
Along with saving money and feeling more organized, it can feel fun to start shopping for kids school supplies.
Why We Love Getting School Supplies
One of the best parts about being a parent (and there are many!) is getting to re-experience your favorite moments as a kid. And yes, that includes back to school shopping for me. If you get excited over new notebooks, pens, and backpacks, then you know exactly what I mean!
It can be fun to feel like a kid again, but there are other reasons why so many of us love back to school shopping.
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The beginning of anything new can feel like a fresh start. No matter your age, the idea of a new you, new possibilities, and new goals feels exciting (for example, maybe this is the year you want to feel more organized or pack more fun lunches for your kids).
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It’s the little things that matter. Finding small moments of joy can help us stay positive and hopeful when life feels stressful, gloomy, or chaotic.
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Crossing things off our to-do list feels satisfying. If you’ve ever put something on your list that you’ve already done, you know what I mean. It’s rewarding to feel like we’re being productive and making progress!
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We feel more prepared and organized. And by extension — so do our kids. As parents, we always want to feel like we’re on top of things and setting our kids up for success. Making sure they’re ready for school can feel like a huge win.
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It creates positive momentum. Accomplishing tasks and getting things in order can get the ball rolling. You may feel more motivated to complete other items on your to-do list or organize other areas of your life. Personally, I love to declutter before the school year!
Ok, now that we’re feeling motivated (hopefully), let’s get to the actual doing. It’s time to order school supplies online and get the good stuff before it sells out!
Your Back-to-School Supplies Checklist
The supplies on your kid’s back to school shopping list will vary, depending on their age and what grade they’re in.
In this checklist, you’ll find the typical school supplies needed for kindergarten, grade school, middle school, and even high school. But you can also grab some of these supplies for preschoolers to use at home.
Just reference my list against your school’s list when you’re ready to get your kids school supplies.
Pens
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Uniball Ball Point Pens: Writes like a gel pen but dries quickly like a ball point pen with water- and fade-resistant ink.
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Pentel Ball Point Pens: These GlideWrite pens are super smooth and don’t smudge.
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Glitter Gel Pens: Not essential, but fun to have!
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Sharpies: This pack includes lots of fun colors — perfect for older kids’ creative projects.
Pencils & Accessories
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PaperMate Mechanical Pencils: Perfect for early writers — the triangular shape guides finger placement and helps kids write with ease.
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BIC Mechanical Pencils: Great for older kids — these colorful pencils have a thick point with break-resistant lead.
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No. 2 Pencils: There’s a reason why many schools and teachers prefer Ticonderoga — these pencils write smooth and don’t break easily.
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Pencil Grips: These fun pencil grips can help kids hold their pencils (and pens) properly.
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Electric Pencil Sharpener: Has an auto-stop safety feature and sharpens pencils in just 3 seconds — store it in a pencil case to use anywhere.
Erasers
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Pencil-Shaped Erasers: These erasers last a long time and are easy for little hands to hold.
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Block Erasers: The block style makes it easy for kids to erase large areas and get into small corners.
Markers, Crayons, & Colored Pencils
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Felt Tip Markers: Perfect for writing, note-taking, drawing, and journaling.
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Washable Crayons: Great for little ones who are learning how to color (and stay on the paper!)
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Twistable Crayons: These crayons twist up to color and back down to store, making them less likely to break.
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Colored Pencils: Add these to your school supplies or grab a pack for kids to use at home.
Highlighters
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Highlighters - Twist-Up Gel Design: I love the sleek design of these highlighters, plus the colors are vibrant and don’t bleed through paper.
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Highlighters - Chisel Tip: These highlighters have two-line widths, making them great for highlighting and underlining different sizes of text.
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Highlighters - Double Ended: One end has a broad chisel tip and the other has a fine bullet point — great for highlighting, underlining, drawing, and hand-lettering.
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Highlighters - Soft Grip: Each highlighter can write up to 8 hours without a cap on and not dry out, plus the soft grip is extra comfy and gives you better control.
Scissors
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Kids’ Scissors: These scissors have large finger loops and rounded tips — great for ages 4-8.
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All-Purpose Scissors: The comfort grip makes them easy to hold while the thick blade shears can cut a variety of materials.
Glue
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Liquid glue: Non-toxic and washable — easy for kids to use and clean up.
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Glue sticks: Dries quickly and colorlessly — perfect for school projects and arts & crafts at home.
Math Supplies
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Ruler: This clear ruler makes it easy to see pages and take precise measurements. It also has extra space at the ends for clear starts and stops.
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Calculator: This basic scientific calculator is ideal for general math, algebra, and general science.
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Protractor: Sturdy and easy to use — perfect for drawing circles and measuring angles.
Organizers
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Pouch Organizers: Includes three different sizes to store and organize a variety of school supplies.
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Wide-Opening Pen & Pencil Case: Features a main compartment with five mesh pockets — the wide top makes it easy to access all supplies and it stays upright.
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Patterned Pen & Pencil Case: Comes in lots of fun patterns! This case has pen/pencil loops, mesh pockets, and removable dividers.
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High Capacity Pen & Pencil Case: This case offers larger storage for supplies with three compartments and 14 elastic straps.
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Plastic Storage Clipboard: Stores stationery, pens, and more, while also serving as a clipboard for writing or drawing.
Notebooks & Paper
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Notebook: These Five Star notebooks are a must for older kids who take notes for different subjects in school.
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Loose Paper: Having a stack of loose leaf paper is always helpful for homework assignments or to use in binders.
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Construction Paper: Perfect for school projects, crafts, and more — plus this huge pack will last a long time!
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Index Cards: A useful tool for all ages — use them to create flashcards, study for tests, make lists, and more.
Binders & Folders
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Binders: These binders come in really cute colors, have a customizable cover, and include interior pockets.
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Binder Dividers: I love these big tab dividers because you can write on them, wipe them clean, and reuse them.
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Folders: These heavy duty plastic folders last longer and make it easy for kids to organize loose papers.
Home Desk Supplies
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Pen Holder: Beautiful and functional! This pen holder has four compartments — perfect for organizing pens, scissors, rulers, and more.
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Tape Dispenser: No more fiddling with flimsy tape dispensers or losing the tape! This weighted tape holder stays in place and is easy to refill.
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Stapler: This stapler is a bit smaller in size, making it perfect for kids. Plus you can use it to temporarily staple or permanently staple papers together.
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3-Tier Storage Cart: This rolling cart makes it easy to transform any room into a workspace. Grab a few baskets to organize each tier with pens, pencils, markers, crayons, paper, paint, and more.
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10-Drawer Storage Cart: Reduce the visual clutter and neatly organize a variety of school supplies into their own drawers.
Backpacks
A very important purchase! Here’s my list of the best kids’ backpacks for school — plus tips for how to choose the right backpack for your kid.
Lunch Boxes
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Bentgo Kids Lunch Box: This is a great lunchbox for kids 3-7. It has five compartments to keep food separate, a leak-proof lid, and easy-to-open latches.
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Packit Freezable Lunch Box: No need for separate ice packs! Keep this lunch box in the freezer and pack it in the morning.
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Athleta Girl Lunch Bag: All three of my girls have this lunch bag! It’s big enough to fit a Bentgo lunch box, ice packs, and more.
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Stackable Bento Lunch Box: Perfect for older kids who want to pack bigger lunches — and it comes with its own utensil set.
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Dressing to Go Containers: These leak-proof containers are great for packing dips, dressings, hummus, and more.
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Ice Packs: These ice packs are super cute and come in different designs. The slim design is also easy to slip into any lunch box.
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Lunch Notes: I love grabbing a variety of lunch box notes to switch it up throughout the school year. Check out my post on ideas of what to write in those lunch box notes here.
FAQ for Kids School Supplies
Does my kid really need all of the supplies from this list?
It all depends on your kid’s age and grade level. Your kid’s school will tell you exactly what they need, and then you can save time browsing and shopping by just using my links above.
Do preschoolers need school supplies?
Most preschoolers just need a backpack, lunch box, and water bottle. But you can still grab washable markers, crayons, paper, glue, and training scissors for them to practice coloring, cutting, and gluing at home.
How can I save on school supplies?
Start shopping in July to find back to school sales on supplies and clothes. Some supplies may also be worth it to buy in bulk — you can save them for the next school year or share the cost with parents. You can also look for price matching or rewards.
Are there any classroom supplies that are worth spending more money on?
Certain supplies may be worth investing a bit more in, like backpacks, lunchboxes, and shoes. It can also help to go with a high-quality name brand, like Crayola or Ticonderoga, to make sure supplies they use regularly will last.
How do you get your kids interested in back to school shopping?
Let them pick out their school supplies — or show them options and see what they prefer. You could also grab a couple things that aren’t on the list to make school feel more fun, like glittery pens, a keychain for their backpack, or new stickers for their water bottle. Sticking to the basics will be more budget-friendly, but it may be worth it to let them get something a little fancier or more personalized, too.
Should I order school supplies online to have at home, too?
It’s a good idea to have basic supplies at home for schoolwork, creative projects, and arts and crafts. If you’re buying anything in a pack (or in bulk), keep the extras at home. It’ll also reduce trips to the store if you have it all ready at home ahead of time.
How do you keep your kids school supplies organized?
At school, kids can use pouch organizers or a pencil case to keep small supplies organized and easy to access. At home, you can use a storage cart, bins, or desk organizers. You can also grab a label maker to ensure everything goes back in the same spot.
Final Thoughts on Back to School Supplies
Back to school shopping can feel both exciting and overwhelming. To make it easier (and more fun), start your shopping in July when the back-to-school sales begin — and get your kids involved! You can also order school supplies online to save time, find better discounts, and buy certain items in bulk.
Buying early also means you’ll find exactly what you (or your kids) want, and help you avoid any last-minute stress. Having everything ready to go and organized is also a great way to set a positive tone for the new school year. Make sure to cross off the supplies on your list as you get them for a little mood boost!
If you love back to school shopping as much as I do, let me know in the comments below. Or if there’s anything you buy (or do) to set your kids up for a successful school year — please share!
For more posts like this one, check out back-to-school books, lunch box note ideas, and tips for tear-free mornings to help kids feel more prepared — and excited — for school.
