Shopping for school supplies is always exciting. The kids have fun choosing the items that they’re going to use and the parents are willing to fulfill their wishes. But if you don’t have a list of the essentials, the whole process can turn into a stressful experience. Oftentimes, we can get overwhelmed by the extensive range of options and forget the things we really need.
Before going shopping for stationery sets, bags, and clothes, check with the school to see if there’s anything that they require, and this can vary depending on the school and your kid’s grade. Next, see if there’s something from last year that can be used, like notebooks and pencils. Finally, teachers may be the ones responsible for buying various school supplies for their class. Ask around to make sure that everything you buy it’s going to be used.
Stationery Set with All the Essentials that Students Need
Stationery supplies are the basic ones for school that every student needs. Since these are the items that are used most of the time, you should look for quality stationery set for students that will last for the entire year.
Suitable Pencils and Pens
Some kids prefer pencils and others prefer pens but it can depend on their grade as well. You can find different types but your child can tell you what suits them and what doesn’t. If your kids tend to break or lose pencils and pens, sets are the most cost-efficient option. For smaller kids, HB pencils are the typical choice. The reason is that these pencils are used for writing because of their harder lead and this makes them hard to break as well. Another type of pencil is 2B which is mostly used for drawing because it’s softer and its marks are darker. When it comes to the size, stationery shops offer numerous options. Some kids find it suitable to write with larger pencils because they provide them with a good grip, while others can find them hard to use.
Pens come in all colours and shapes. Ballpoint ones are the most commonly used because their ink dries fast and they last longer. Marker pens can be used for writing if your kids enjoy organising their writing. They can be used for emphasising different words, underlining sentences, and adding notes that stand out. Highlighters are useful for focusing on certain passages and some kids learn better if they use different colours for different categories. To make your job easier, look for stationery set for students that includes pens and markers that can be washed off and cleaned from all surfaces.
Coloured Pencils and Other Things
Younger students usually use coloured pencils more often. They can be hard, which are easy to sharpen and great for details, and soft, which are used for blending and easy to use. Depending on your kid’s needs you can opt for both types but make sure that they’re high-quality so they last longer. Some kids and parents prefer triangular design when it comes to pencils and pens because they’re more suited to the hands when holding them and, plus, they won’t roll off the table all the time.
Choose notebooks according to the type of pencils and pens because some work better with harder and others with softer leads. Also, when shopping for stationery supplies, don’t forget erasers, sharpeners, calculators, and rulers. Different grades have different needs so take that into account as well.
Art Supplies for All Those Art Classes that Kids Love
Especially for younger students, art supplies are very important because they’ll be spending a lot of their time doing something creative. Coloured pencils and markers aren’t just part of the stationery but they’re an essential part of the art supplies as well. There might be different requirements based on the grade but a good set shall do the job.
There are various types of mediums that students can use in school but tempera and watercolours are the most common ones because they’re the easiest to work with. They are a bit messy but aren’t hard to clean as oil paints can be. For this reason, stick to be basics and consult with the art teacher to see what’s required.
Clay and clay doughs are typical art supplies as well. Dough clays are especially used by the youngest because they're reusable and allow great creative expression. Another popular type of clay is air-dry because it’s a fast-drying clay that’s easy to manipulate. Think about the tools as well, such as cutting wheels, rollers, and different kinds of brushes.
Other basics are crayons, scissors, glue, paper, palettes, and aprons. Aprons are recommended for keeping the clothes clean and ensuring that there’ll be no permanent stains.
Backpack and Lunch Essentials for Happy and Satisfied Students
A high-quality backpack will make sure that your child has the best support that won’t cause any pain. Choose it according to your kid’s age and don’t go for larger sizes just because they can fit more. This can lead to additional weight and back pain from carrying an unnecessarily large backpack. There are rolling backpacks that are a great solution for kids that have more things to carry or don’t like carrying bags on their backs.
Lunch boxes come in all sizes and materials so you need to consider the amount of food that your kid usually needs. Go for reusable plastic boxes that are easy to clean. To make sure that your children stay hydrated, buy a reusable, spill-proof water bottle that they can have with them all day.
Other Miscellaneous Things that Can Come in Handy
Besides these, all kids have different needs so make sure that you sit down with them and ask about what else they might need. Some suggestions are:
- Hand sanitisers
- Antibacterial wipes
- Tissue box
- Change of clothes
- Hand cream
- Hair clips and elastics
- Pads and tampons
