20 Essential Back-to-School Supplies All Students Need
20 Essential Back-to-School Supplies All Students Need
Summertime is dwindling, which means fall and all that the season encompasses is on deck. But before some of us can peacefully sip our PSLs and cozy up under an oversized sweater next to our favorite scented candle, getting the kids ready for the fall semester takes precedence. The first order of business before class is officially in session? Shopping for back-to-school supplies.
If you’re overcome with a wave of nostalgia adding binders, notebooks, pencils, and crayons to your cart, you’re not alone. On top of reminiscing over your own school days past, it can be incredibly bittersweet to send little ones off to elementary, watch middle school graduates enter the busier halls of high school, or move your not-so-little one into a college dorm. Gifting them the tools they need to succeed in these environments is one of the best ways you can support them on their journey to higher education. Plus, it’s another way to sneak in some parent-child bonding before they’re out of the house (be it for a few hours a day or weeks at a time).
So, where should you start? Once their closets are stocked with fall staples, tackling in-class essentials comes next, then dorm room must-haves for university-bound teens and/or homework helpers for grade school kids. It’s a good idea to check your email prior to making any purchases, as some teachers will send out a supplies checklist to help you shop. If your inbox is empty, however, we’ve got you covered.
1) FriXion Clicker Erasable Gel Ink Pens
Pilot
staples.com
$14.99
It turns out, that ink isn’t forever. Pilot’s FriXion ball clicker erasable gel pens are downright magical. With erasable ink, your child can write, erase, and re-write, without a trace of their original scribble lingering on the page. What's more, the pens are refillable, so purchasing a pack is a sustainable act. More writing, less waste.
2) FriXion? Light Erasable Highlighters
Pilot?
staples.com
$6.19
While you’re adding Pilot’s erasable pens to your cart, you’ll want to go ahead and add a pack of the brand’s erasable highlighters, too. Some children go highlighter happy, adding color over passages that are not important, but with these innovative highlighters, however, unnecessary markups can be easily eradicated.
3) 2022-23 18 Month Academic Planner Heartland Classic
The Happy Planner
target.com
$27.99
Choosing a planner for the year ahead is as personal as your skincare preferences. That said, The Happy Planner is one of the best planners on the market, and we can guarantee your high school or college student would be thrilled to have this scheduler on their side. Complete with 18 calendars, weekly spreads, and laminated covers to protect their pages, it’s the ultimate planner for students that like to stay organized.
4) Dry Erase Sheets
Post-it
amazon.com
$10.59
For middle and high school students constantly scribbling reminders on looseleaf, now they can jot down any fleeting thoughts in-between classes on this dry-erase sheet from Post-it. It’s simple; all your child has to do is peel off the sheet’s liner and stick it to their locker door for an instant whiteboard. Don’t worry - dry-erase markers will come off clean, so the sheet can be written on again and again throughout the school year.
5) Personalized 3-Shelf Wood Bookshelf
Delta Children
deltachildren.com
$99.99
Do you have a little one who’s learning how to read? Delta children’s personalized bookshelf is the perfect back-to-school surprise for aspiring bookworms. Seeing their name across their very own shelf will give them a sense of pride, and offer them their very own space to explore new and old favorite stories.
6) Crockpot Electric Lunch Box
Crock-Pot
amazon.com
$34.99
College students have a lot on their schedule. Between classes, extracurriculars, and internships, pausing to eat, let alone cook, a warm meal for themselves is the last thing on their to-do list. Make on-the-go meals more convenient for your hard worker with this electric lunch box from Crockpot. It comes in six color options and can hold up to 1.3 pounds of food, plus its parts are dishwasher-safe, so cleanup isn’t an issue.
7) Colors of The World Skin Tone Markers
Crayola
amazon.com
$6.23
It’s never too early to teach our children the importance of inclusivity. The Crayola Colors of the World Skin Tone Markers box includes 24 markers, each shade representing different people from around the world. They’re more than art supplies; they’re a celebration of diversity.
8) Wite-Out EZ Correct Correction Tape
BIC
amazon.com
$5.48
Remember when white-out only came in liquid form, and if you accidentally applied too much, the stuff would dry goopy and bumpy, only making your paper look worse? Enter BIC’s Wite-Out EZ Correct correction tape. Pieces eject from the plastic dispenser and apply easily, drying instantly. Once it’s down on paper, you can write over the spot in seconds.
9) Silicone Reusable Storage Bag Bundle 4-Pack
Stasher
amazon.com
$54.99
Stasher bags saw a surge in popularity thanks to social media over the past few years, but if somehow these reusable food storage bags aren’t on your radar, consider this a friendly PSA to hop on this sustainability train. The bags are made from washable silicone and are microwave, dishwasher, oven, and freezer safe. They come in countless colors, prints, and sizes, and are as awesome at storing snacks and leftovers as they are great for the planet.
10) Big Capacity Pencil & Pen Case
EASTHILL
amazon.com
$14.99
Pencil cases are still cool in our book and if you agree, this one from EASTHILL should definitely be added to your back-to-school supplies list. Aside from its incredibly sleek aesthetic and nine stunning color options, it's aptly named for its large storage capacity; it can fit up to a whopping 50 pens or 90 pencils, plus small stationery items. They’ll want one for school, and you might want one for work.
11) Pencil Grip 3-Step Training Kit
The Pencil Grip
amazon.com
$8.72
Granted, a lot of schools are working with laptops these days, but writing is still a priority in the classroom. Unfortunately, pencils are also still uncomfortable to write with after a while, as the wood rubs up against your student’s finger. The solution? Cushiony pencil grips that can alleviate some of the discomfort.
12) Fire TV Stick 4K
Amazon
amazon.com
$29.99
College students will surely miss cable TV in their dorm rooms, so while the Amazon Fire Stick could be categorized as an unconventional back-to-school supply, for the avid television and movie-watcher, it’s practically a bare necessity. Users will be able to stream 1 million movies and TV episodes straight from Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Peacock, and more, and searching is made easy thanks to the device’s Alexa Voice Remote.
13) Meal Planner
ban.do
bando.com
$14.95
If your college kid is opting to survive on sustenance beyond a meal service option, add this meal planner from Ban.do to their cart ASAP. Your chef-in-training can easily plan out their meals on this decorative page, as well as jot down a definitive grocery list for the week. One stack includes 50 sheets (so you might want to invest in a few) and includes a magnet on the back, perfect for their refrigerator displays.
14) Protective Laptop Sleeve
MOSISO
amazon.com
$18.49
Rather than have them slip their laptop into their shoulder bag, MOSISO’s sleeve offers their precious tech some additional (and, to be frank, much-needed) protection. The sleeve is made from polyester and features a pocket for your charging cords, as well as a shock-resistant bubble foam padding layer for optimal protection. It also comes in a wide range of color options, plus six sizes to best match their laptop’s dimensions.
16) Kids Prints Leak-Proof, 5-Compartment Bento-Style Lunch Box
Bentgo
amazon.com
$29.99
Gone are the days when you’d have to pack all of your kids’ snacks in individual baggies, thanks to bento-style lunch boxes. These multi-compartment food containers from Bentgo are roomy enough to stash a sandwich, snacks, and even dipping sauce, making for a sustainable and mess-free meal set-up. Available in over 20 kid-friendly designs, including puppies, sharks, trucks, and sports, the box features a removable compartment tray that’s microwave-friendly and dishwasher-proof, so cleaning and reheating are both easy processes.
17) Laundry Hamper
Room Essentials
target.com
$12.99
Dorm room laundry baskets have come a long way. Ditch the mesh bags that always seem like they’re one load away from ripping and, instead, treat your college student to the Room Essentials laundry hamper from Target. It has a removable bag so they don’t have to trek the entire basket down the halls and on elevator rides, plus a lid to keep odors contained.
18) Self-Adhesive Multi-opening Cable Clips
Attom Tech Office
amazon.com
$7.43
Instead of having a handful of cords crowd your student’s study space, the Attom Techn self-adhesive multi-opening cable clip system boasts seven slots for loose cables. It can be for computer cords, TV cables, power cords, USB cables, mouse cables, cell phone chargers, and more, and can adhere to desks, walls, and even the car.
19) I have a match logo backpack
Abercrombie & Fitch
abercrombie.com
$49.95
When you’re in elementary school, fewer things are more exciting than picking out a new backpack. These logo bags from Abercrombie come in cool designs, including blue dye, floral, and camo, and come clad with mesh water bottle holders on each side, a padded laptop pocket, and a zipper closure. They’re roomy on the inside and supportive on the outside, so your little 0ne can cart their books and other school supplies to and from class with ease.
20) Bedside Organizer Caddy
Trycooling
amazon.com
$18.96
Any back-to-school supplies that keep your child’s dorm a little less cluttered are a win. Take this bedside caddy from Trycooling, for example. It attaches to their bed rail and offers four storage compartments they’ll have easy access to day or night. We especially love this pick for late-night study sessions. When your student is too tired to walk over to their desk, they’ll slip their books into the caddy rather than pop them messily on the floor.
With kids returning back to the classroom, thoughts of stationery, backpacks, and lunchboxes are high. We have picked the essential school supplies for students of all ages.