School Supply “Must Buys”

School supplies come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. The lists sent out by schools can be extensively, exhaustively long and confusing, or extremely short (and probably still confusing). These lists may leave you wandering the aisles of big box stores, wondering why, exactly, your kindergartener needs a calculator already. 

I don’t want to mess with the list your school gave you–it is important for your child to come prepared to school with the actual items on the list, no matter how confusing or lengthy it might be. However, there are items out in the ether that moms swear by. We spoke to moms who recommend these top three “must buys”, and we guarantee you won’t see them specifically listed as any schools’ supplies.

PACKIT Classic Soft Sided Lunch Box

Laura Maxwell, a mom of two, swears by this fan favorite lunch box, which promises to keep your kid’s food cool all day long. The entire lunch box is constructed with ECOFREEZE ™ technology that is built into the walls of the bag. Maxwell states, “it’s great for healthier snacks that might be perishable!” Your mini carrots and cheese sticks will stay fresh whether your child chows down first thing in the morning as a second breakfast or during the snack time at the end of the day. Plus, the lunch box is designed to be flattened for compact storage in the freezer, so slide it right in there next to your ice cream and frozen fruit–it won’t take up much space at all.

Don’t forget to choose a PACKIT in your kid’s favorite color or pattern! They have many different, yet equally adorable, options. We would also recommend pairing the Classic Soft Sided Lunch Box with PACKIT’s MOD Bento Lunch Container, which has adjustable dividers so you can customize the portions.

Image taken from PACKIT’s website.

Yeti Rambler Jr.

At school, your kid is going to be moving and grooving–they will hit the playground, use their brain power, make music (or maybe just noises) with the recorder, create beautiful art, learn new games in gym class, and so much more! All of these awesome activities will work up a serious thirst. That’s why mother Jaiya Jermulowske thinks it's important to have a great water bottle that can be her kids’ constant companion throughout the day. She buys the Yeti Rambler Jr., which is a 12 oz kids water bottle with many features that are perfect for your little ones. 

The Yeti Rambler Jr. is carryable, cool, contained, and “child-proof”. The small size makes it easy for kids to lift, and the handle is perfect for a teensy hand to fit through, so kids can easily carry it from one activity to the next. Not only do its many color choices make it “cool” (kids especially seem to love the Canopy Green and Tropical Pink), but it also keeps your drinks cold all day with its double wall vacuum insulation. Those cold drinks will rarely spill, because the top is leak resistant and the open and closable straw is perfect for simple sips. And finally, the Yeti Rambler Jr. is child-proof in that your kid will have a hard time breaking it, no matter what shenanigans they get into: the water bottle is engineered with super strong stainless steel armor that is puncture and rust resistant. 

Whether your kid is taking a break between tag games or grabbing a drink after a clarinet session, their thirst is sure to be quenched with the Yeti Rambler Jr.

Image taken from YETI’s website.

Pottery Barn Kids Mackenzie Backpack

Pottery Barn’s Kids Mackenzie Back is often touted as the perfect pack option, with a plethora of sizes, delightfully different designs to choose from, and plenty of pockets and straps to hold your child’s accouterments. 

What makes this backpack so special? It is, in many ways, customizable. You can choose between a mini, small, large, extra large, rolling, and adaptable pack, depending on the size and needs of your child. Each pack itself has adjustable, padded shoulder straps and adjustable side straps, and exterior side pockets that are perfect for kids’ water bottles. 

Plus, there are seemingly limitless options of playful and fun designs for kids to choose from! Does your child like Hello Kitty, or cars? Do they play baseball, or draw rainbows? Do they prefer unicorns, or glow in the dark? Or both?! They can have their pick of the litter with the Mackenzie Backpack.

If you’re looking for even more personalization to make the backpack as unique as the kid who is wearing it, you’re in luck! You can even get your child’s name embroidered on the backpack for an extra cost.

Image taken from Pottery Barn’s website.

When it comes to school supplies, there are a ton of great options out there! These are some products that we know moms love, but the truth is that you need to find the supplies that work best for you and your kid. If you have the luxury of exploring different options, do it! If not, these essentials (the lunch box, water bottle, and backpack) are a great place to start. Your kid may or may not thank you for these awesome products, but we guarantee you’ll be thanking yourself for buying them. 

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