Not much can rival the excitement of a fresh box of pointy crayons or a college-ruled notebook with hundreds of crisp pages just waiting to be filled. But you don’t want to overdo it and end up with a bunch of school supplies that aren’t going to get used, do you? So what do you really need to do to get your kids ready for their big day? If Frugality is your goal, I suggest you consider the following:
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The runaway lunchbox dilemma:
My son is notorious for losing his lunchbox. One year I thought I was being proactive by buying him several backup lunchboxes. But I think that made him feel like I was giving him a green light to go ahead and lose a lunchbox or two (and he did lose ALL of them!). The next year I let him choose his lunch container when we bought school supplies. When he lost that, he was on plastic grocery bag status for the rest of the year.
My advice? Take it on a case-by-case basis. If your child is responsible enough to not lose his lunchbox, reward him with a good one. If he is like my oldest, pay only what you’re willing to gamble on it not getting lost.
Zipper pouch or pencil box?
Unless he is a minimalist or extremely organized, a pencil box offers a child way too much square footage. These are the things that I’ve seen cluttering up a pencil box: pencil shavings, far more pencils than a student will use, markers, toys, crayons, treasures from the playground (ie., sticks, leaves, and little roly-poly enclosures), bits of crayon, snacks, tissues and paper towels. Then there’s the issue of where to store the box. If it’s in the desk, it takes up a lot of needed space. On top of the desk often results in the attention-grabbing “POW!” every time it gets accidentally knocked off and its contents spill across the classroom.
My advice? Stick with a zipper pouch, send the basics to school and keep some backup pencils at home.
Permanent markers are your best friend:
When your kids are in school, it’s important to label everything! The manufacturers made more than one of that kind of jacket, backpack, hat, or water bottle. Kids easily lose things . So label it with his name and phone number if it’s something that matters to you or your child.
My advice? I practically own stock in Sharpie, but all our misplaced coats have found their way home.
Promote hydration:
Drinking water during the school day helps with concentration and energy. Sending your child to school with a water bottle gives him a little boost that he may need during his hard day of learning.
My advice? Use disposable bottles that can help fuel your child’s school’s recycling program (if they have one) or one of these awesome desk-toppers. And dont forget to label it!
The lowdown on folders:
As you meander down the school supply aisles, keep in mind you don’t need everything the store offers. Your child may be yearning for a nifty binder, but he may not need one. In grades K-2, a 2-pocket folder or a large, laminated envelope are common home-to-school communication vessels. Grades 3-6 will most likely use a binder for homework, and the teacher may require one for class as well.
My advice? Check with the teacher for her recommendation based on your student’s grade and her classwork/homework policy.
What about all those extras?
Yes, your child will use crayons and glue, particularly in the primary grades. Pencils, a pencil sharpener, erasers, colored pencils, highlighters, and whiteboard markers may also be used throughout the year. Hopefully the teacher will tell you the supplies you do and don’t need.
My advice? Check with the school office to see if your child’s teacher has a supply list.
A great first day photo:
Start the year by letting your child know how important he is to you. Make a big deal about that first day of school. To give you some inspiration, here are some fun photography ideas for the first day of school.
Preparing your children for the first day of school is so very important. It’s a day to be celebrated as we send off our children for a year of growing and learning. While buying supplies is fun, if it’s not in the budget there’s no need to go overboard. With a carefully-planned supplies list and your support and encouragement, your child will be ready for a successful school year.