Parents Guide to Back to School Supplies

Heading back to school is a hard time all around. Saying farewell to the holidays is one thing, but tackling the dreaded back to school list is another thing altogether. Sometimes schools can give a comprehensive back to school supplies list while other schools tend to stick with a single-sided dot point list. Yet, whether the list is comprehensive or not, sourcing the supplies can still be hard work. 

Shopping for back to school supplies doesn’t have to be hard work though. By choosing the most practical items and always stocking up on items that are on special, the supplies you buy your kids in January will serve them well until the last day of term four. 

Technology 

While some back to school supplies haven’t changed over the years, one aspect of the supply list has- technology. Gone are the days where kids are taught solely through the old fashioned means of textbooks and whiteboards. Instead, modern day children are learning through the combined means of textbooks and technology. 

This means trying to find the right tablet or laptop to supplement your child’s learning. Depending on your child’s age, you may want a computer that performs basic functions or, if they’re a little older, a computer that has all the bells and whistles. Finding the right tablet or computer for school kids is a delicate balancing act. Just remember to buy the piece of technology that suits their needs. 

As kids get older and technology develops, laptops and tablets aren’t the only devices that parents can send their kids off to school with. There are now of course wearables and mobile phones to consider. While these items aren’t on the school’s supplies list, they may be purchased at the discretion of parents in order to have an added way to make sure that their kids are safe at school. 

Bags and accessories 

Nowadays most schools require you to buy school bags with the school’s logo on it. So, when it comes to shopping for bags the only thing parents have to worry about is lunchboxes. However, something that sounds so simple can often be a hard task. The ideal lunchbox is big enough to store a day’s food comfortably, but it can’t be too big that it takes up all the room in the school bag.

When it comes to purchasing lunchboxes, parents also need to think about buying insulated lunch bags. This ensures that food is kept fresh and cool throughout the course of the school day. While this may seem overwhelming, the trick to picking the right lunchbox lies in choosing the one that will last all year round while also being easy to clean. 

Class supplies

In order to take the pressure off, use the back to school supplies list as a guide to what needs to be brought. Because there are a lot of supplies ranging from loose leaf paper to scissors and glue, the best thing you can do is try and find one shop for all your school supplies needs.

Somewhere like Kmart is a good place to go back to school shopping. Everything is under one roof and through simply eliminating multiple stops to different stores, the pressure is already lifted. From personal organisers and post-it notes to pens and highlighters, a trick of the trade is to stock up on things that are on special. This is because kids will need supplies at home as well for homework and also because some supplies very rarely make it through all four terms. 

At the most basic level, class supplies will include things like:

• Pens 

• Pencils

• Highlighters

• Erasers

• Glue sticks

• Scissors 

• Loose-leaf paper

• Plastic folders 

• Rulers

• Personal organiser 

• Protractor

• Calculator 

• Binders 

Uniform must haves 

Depending on the school, you might be able to simply go to the school’s uniform shop in order to purchase the appropriate clothing, or you may have to go to a few stores to get skivvies and the like. 

However, the school uniform actually encompasses a lot more than just the clothes kids will wear during the school day. Additional must-haves includes things like socks, shoes, hats and for those with long hair- hair ties. Purchasing these accessories ensures that along with the school supplied uniform, your child has everything they need to look presentable and feel comfortable while at school. 

Back to school with the Strand 

When the back to school supplies list arrives in your inbox the most common reaction is one of dread. Upon first glance, the list can seem daunting and hard to tackle. However, by breaking the list up into sections and finding a retailer that can provide all your back to school needs in one place, you’re off to a good start. 

When it comes to fulfilling the back to school list, always seek out practical and reliable supplies that your kids will actually want to use. And don’t forget to add a few more packets of pens and pencils to your shopping cart in case your kid’s supplies are borrowed and never returned. 

The Strand Coolangatta has all the answers to your back to school supply list questions. For all your school supplies from uniform extras to craft accessories, look no further than the Strand Coolangatta.