5 back-to-school items parents swear by (that aren’t on supply lists)
Parents, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but school supply lists are already landing in inboxes—and that means back-to-school shopping season has officially begun.
Sure, the lists cover the basics: notebooks, pencils, folders, binders and glue sticks. But after surviving my first elementary school year as a parent, I learned those lists only tell part of the story.
What schools ask for and what kids actually need to get through a successful school year aren't always the same. Some of the items that made the biggest difference for my almost 6-year-old never appeared on a supply list at all. From helping us stay connected during the school day to making lunch easier (and actually getting eaten), these parent-approved essentials quickly became must-haves.
Before you finish your back-to-school shopping, consider adding these five items you won't find on your child's school supply list—but you'll be glad you bought anyway.
The school supply list gets your child through the classroom door—but these extras help them thrive once they're there.
Parent to parent, here are 5 things you won't find on your back-to-school shopping list
1. A pediatrician-approved backpack that your child will love
USA TODAY Shopping spoke to a pediatrician who recommends three things for your child's backpack:
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Padded straps to protect their shoulders
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A padded back to cushion any heavy carries
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A chest or waist strap to distribute weight and reduce strain
A lot of trendy backpacks do not fit that mold, but Pottery Barns Kids Mackenzie backpack does and it comes in tons of adorable character, toy and sports patterns that your kids will love.
Shop their favorite characters, colors and sports teams, grab a matching lunchbox and water bottle and personalize this backpack with their name!
2. Waterproof labels to prevent mix-ups, loss of items
Especially once the cooler months set in and all the kids were wearing sweaters to school, the parent chat was suddenly filled with "Billy came home with a sweater that isn't his" and "We found three identical black hoodies in the classroom." Prevent the mix-up with Mabel's Labels , they're custom, waterproof labels that can cover everything from school supplies to clothes.
Label everything from school supplies to school uniforms with these custom, waterproof labels.
3. This leakproof Gatorade Rookie water bottle for kids
A water bottle probably won't be on your school supply list, but you should send your kid to school with one. There's plenty on the market, from Stanley to Zak Designs, but this Gatorade Kids' Rookie water bottle is my favorite! The 12-ounce is a perfect size for most school-aged children, it's insulated to keep drinks cold all day, and most importantly, it's spill-proof. We love this bottle so much in our house, we have three that we rotate through for the school week.
A 12-ounce premium stainless-steel fully insulated bottle designed for your rookie athletes to keep drinks cold on and off the field.
4. AirTag Insoles for your child's shoes
This is slightly more controversial, but I needed this peace of mind. I hope we are never in a situation where we would need to use it, but having an AirTag in my child's insole made me feel more comfortable sending him to school.
These insoles feature a specially designed pocket to securely hold and conceal an AirTag tracker while maintaining comfort during wear.
SHOP: Don't forget the AirTag! Save on these GPS trackers now at Amazon.
5. Omie lunchbox for warm, balanced lunches
Bento-style lunchboxes have gotten incredibly popular for parents to prepare balanced meals that also stay warm until lunch time. This Omie bento box for kids is a favorite among Amazon shoppers with more than 3,000 purchased in the last month. It has three compartments for food and you can use the insulated food tumbler to keep part of their lunch warm until they eat. Plus, it's lightweight so it's not adding too much to their backpack.
With OmieBox, you can pack more variety and keep their favorite foods at just the right temperature, so lunch is always something to look forward to.
When does back-to-school shopping start?
We typically start to see back-to-school deals popping up around late June and ramping up through July as retailers launch seasonal sales. Many families wait until tax-free weekends in their state, or even August if you have a later school start.
What deals can we expect for back-to-school?
Many retailers offer discounts on both school supplies and everyday essentials throughout the summer. Shopping early often gives you the best deals and selection of backpacks, lunch boxes, water bottles and other popular items before they sell out. Here are some deals we'll be monitoring throughout the summer:
Stay tuned for more back-to-school sales on clothing, shoes and more!
USA TODAY Shopping will be covering all the best deals and drops so be sure to sign up for text alerts , check us out on Flipboard , follow us on TikTok , sign up for our newsletter and follow us on Instagram to stay updated!
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 5 back-to-school items parents swear by (that aren't on supply lists)
