Our Favorite Must-Have Back to School Supplies for Kids

Shop the cutest and most useful back to school supplies for elementary and middle school kids. These must-haves are budget-friendly and kid-approved!

Whether you homeschool or send your kids to school, you need back to school supplies. Between our 9 kids, we need to refresh every year. And, especially the good ones, we need multiples to avoid the fights amongst siblings. The beauty of back to school supply shopping is that it’s a fresh start… new crayons, new pencils… a fresh start. It can be a juggle to make back to school season flow, but that’s why we rounded up our favorites today to help you shop smarter. Let’s get to it!

Make School Prep Less Stressful With These Essentials

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosures here. As an Amazon associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Stock Up Early Before the Rush

July is the sweet spot for back to school shopping because it’s before the big rush and you can avoid the picked-over bins that usually show up in August. Starting in July is also a great way to spread out the spending so it doesn’t hit your pocketbook all at once. Many local stores or even your school have a list of what kids need and some may even have pre-made supply packs to make it easier to get your kids the exact items they need.

Organize Before You Buy

If your school doesn’t have the supply packs, it’ll be key to organize everything before you purchase. We like to print the class supply lists ahead of time and check it against our current stash at home. We then give each of our kids a basket or bin for their own supplies. This helps us avoid overbuying and makes things way easier to setup.

Let the Kids Pick a Few Favorites

Half of the fun of back to school supply shopping is picking out some personalized items. As we all know, every kid is different and being able to choose a few fun things that fit their personality will be super exciting for them. We typically set a small budget for a few fun picks like headphones or backpacks because we’ve found that when they have a few fun choices to make, they are more likely to actually use what we buy.

Don’t Forget Lunch and Snack Gear

Some of our favorite ways to make packing lunches easier is to invest in the bento boxes and silicone snack cups. These help us save time and they are easy to label, clean, and reuse. We also love a good spill-proof water bottle that can survive the wild side of kid life. These items are often overlooked, but since they use them every day, it’s an important investment.

Label Everything Once and Done

And last, but certainly not least, don’t forget to label all the things. We love removable waterproof labels because they are great for water bottles, lunch gear, and even headphones. Labeling everything will help avoid any mix-ups at school or drama in the lost and found. It even works for homeschooling if you have multiple kids at home too.

Back to School Supplies Must Haves

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosures here. As an Amazon associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Now let’s talk about some of our favorite back to school supplies you and your kids will love.

1. Spiral Notebooks – 1 Subject, 70 Sheets, College Ruled – A reliable classic for every subject, these spiral notebooks are a must-have for staying organized all year.
2. HYDRO FLASK Kids Water Bottle Jr. – Keeps drinks cold all day long and fits perfectly in a backpack side pocket.
3. Bento Box Lunch Box – Leakproof and compact, this bento box makes lunch packing stress-free and fun.
4. Grid Mesh Pencil Case with Zipper – Lightweight yet durable, this mesh case keeps pens and pencils easy to find.
5. Cute Middle School Backpack – Roomy and trendy, this backpack holds everything without feeling bulky.
6. Assorted Colors Waterproof Removable Labels – These colorful, waterproof labels make it easy to keep school supplies clearly marked.
7. Kids Bluetooth Headphones Light Up – Volume-limited and fun to wear, these headphones are perfect for homework time and tech days.
8. 8oz Silicone Snack Containers for Kids – Reusable and dishwasher safe, these little containers are perfect for packing fruits, crackers, or mini treats.
9. .5 Inch Multicolor Binder & 8-Tab Divider Set – Colorful and compact, this binder and divider set is great for keeping subjects separate and tidy.
10. Pre-Sharpened Pencils in Cute Pastel Colors – These ready-to-use pastel pencils add a little fun to every writing task.

And if you want everything in one place, don’t miss our full Back to School Supply Idea list, packed with more essentials to kick off the year right!

We love these items because they aren’t just cute, they’re practical and totally worth it for easing the transition back into the school year. Whether you’re prepping for one kid or managing chaos for nine, these picks help everyone start strong and stay organized. What back to school supply has been a lifesaver for your family?

If you enjoyed these ideas, make sure to pin the image below to reference later!