Essential Back To School Items You Didn't Know You Needed for Students and Parents
- Erika Doty
- Aug 4
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 25
We're ready for the routine, but not the scheduling.
Summer is coming to an end...and with that it's time to face that back to school list that has been boldly ignored all summer. Save yourself some time, and a headache or two, and check out the list below of back-to-school must-have items recommended from parents just like you. No reinventing the wheel here. (We're smarter than that!)
Top Back-To-School Items for Your Kids:
"My son (middle school) loves this pencil case because it help keep him organized."
Backpacks: "We've used each of these three options over the years. The roller bag (which comes in a bunch of colors/patterns) was great in elementary when my kids had books and binders, but I was worried about them carrying all that weight on their backs. These other two bags were super popular with my teens (and super affordable!)."
"Oh my gosh! This has been a game-changer for my daughter! Take a pic with your phone, or if you have images/graphs/drawing from a school website or paper on your phone, you can then print the image off instantly on this little pocket-sized printer. It prints on sticker paper so then you just add the image to your study guide or notes. It's my daughter's favorite study tool."
"Nike socks for everyone!"
Reusable Book Covers - "These will save your books and make school life a little more colorful and personal. They come in a million styles, colors and patterns. Definitely be sure to check the sizing before ordering."
"Did you know they make clear sticky notes? I didn't either until my daughter asked me to get these for her to help with her study notes. Genius!"
"You know you had one when you were a kid. The Trapper Keeper is back! My high schooler and her friends all have one - yes, the old school version. They are amazing by how well it keeps them organized...which cracks me up! But I love it! There's a reason this thing has stuck around so long. Of course, there are updated versions available too - some like this one that have a zipper closure all the way around and a shoulder strap."
"Another awesome alternative to the Trapper Keeper or binder is this case. It's like a Trapper Keeper but it has a spot for a laptop/Chromebook. My son's (middle school and high school) each got one for this school year. They're excited to have just one thing for all of their essential school stuff."
"It seems like a little thing, but these will save so many tears. We have a house full of math nerds and artists - we've tried all of the erasers out there and these are THE BEST! Amazon sells them in a box of 18 or 36 - go for it and put one in every bag, locker, drawer, etc."
"Those fidget gadgets (spinners, cubes, etc) are helpful in some ways, but totally distracting and annoying in others. Our family just discovered these gidget pencils. These seem to satisfy that need to fidget, and provide a nice little sensory item in-hand for our anxious test-takers."
"This will seem random, but these things are awesome! Get all those cords under control. These come in different sizes and the different colors can help you coordinate by family member, school subject, etc."
"This is going to sound cliche, or very obvious, but get your kid a planner. This is good for them and for you. Even - especially! - if they aren't super organized. We get one each year (have done so since about age 10) and my kids know we'll check it each day after school. This one here is just an example - there are a ton of choices out there. Find one your kid loves."
"All those dang water bottles. (I'm not even sure I drank water when I was in school...) Every kid has a water bottle for school, sometimes many. Us parents have them too. This little storage unit makes the water bottle management so much better!"
Top Items for Parents:
"For the middle school parents...these books came highly recommended by our amazing middle school principal. I highly recommend all three. Middle School Matters and The Gift of Failure are amazing no matter your child's specific grade, gender, academic status...doesn't matter. Untangled is a must-read for parents of girls (if you have a daughter, or you were one, you know what I mean). Middle school is a tough time for these kids (and their parents). These were a great resource."
I also wrote an entire article on the book He's Not Lazy- Empowering Your Son to Believe in Himself by Adam Price because it was so helpful to me with my two sons.
Check out the full review and favorite takeaways here.
This is one of my favorite parenting tools! It is described as a “52 week calendar of creative and crucial tips for teens that will help both parents and teenagers navigate our modern world with confidence.” I love this so much I wrote an entire article about it on Babble - check it out here!
I mean...can't hurt, right? These teachers deserve SO MUCH!
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