What to Include in Your Back to School Shopping List

Even if you’ve already received your child’s class assignments, gotten him or her a handy 7 speed beach cruiser to ride to school and had thorough discussions about handling school pressure, you may still need to stock up on some back-to-school supplies before the semester starts.

Having the right supplies can help prepare your child to tackle the new school year head-on and can help ensure that he or she has all the tools for academic success. If you’re not sure what items you need to add to your back-to-school shopping list, cover all your bases with this quick guide.

Make Sure Your Child Has Basic Paper and Writing Supplies

While having a brand-new backpack and a beach cruiser electric bike for getting to school may add a fun touch for your child, it’s important to make sure that he or she has, first and foremost, basic paper supplies and writing utensils.

You can easily stock up on these basics at your local department store, and may even be able to find bargains if you opt to buy certain products in bulk to last you throughout the school year. Some of the essentials you should make sure to add to your list include the following.

• Pencils and pens
• Notebooks and loose-leaf paper
• Binders and folders
• Highlighters
• Subject dividers
• Erasers

Ask Your Child’s Teacher About Higher-End School Supplies

If your child is enrolled in high-level math or art courses, he or she may need additional supplies beyond the basics. Just as you may be considering upgrading your child’s bike to include beach cruiser handle bars, so too can you upgrade his or her school supplies to include some add-ons that classmates are sure to be jealous of! These higher-end supplies will depend on the courses your child is enrolled in, but could very likely include:

• Calculators
• Protractors
• Tablets or laptops
• Rulers
• Watercolor paints

Add Some Fun Extras to Your List Depending on Your Child’s Grade

Finally, once you’ve covered all the basics, you may be thinking about sprinkling in a few fun extras to make your child’s year truly memorable and enjoyable. You can shop for additional supplies that not only add a pinch of fun to your child’s school day but are also grade-appropriate.

For example, while young children might love a brand-new jumbo box of crayons, older kids might appreciate locker mirrors. Consider the following options to tailor to your child’s grade and age.

• Crayons and colored pencils
• Decorated lunchboxes
• Washable markers and glue sticks
• Construction paper
• Locker decorations and storage accessories
• New backpacks

When you want to make sure that you’ve got all your bases covered and your child has everything he or she needs to get the school year off to a strong start, pull out this quick and easy shopping guide. Make sure to include paper and writing supplies, special math or art add-ons as required and a few fun extras appropriate to your child’s age to round out the list. With this back-to-school guide, your child can head into the new year ready to learn.

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