Back-to-School Checklist: These Are the Must-Haves
Are you still looking for a back-to-school checklist? What should not be missing in the school backpack and how should parents behave properly at the start of school? We have put together some helpful tips for the school start and know how to make the transition from kindergarten to school easier for your child.
Even for second and third graders, it’s advisable to regularly check school supplies. An organized pencil case and a few new school items can positively affect children’s motivation. Our back-to-school checklist is therefore suitable for all elementary school students – whether already enrolled or not.
Back-to-school checklist
The school backpack – don’t buy too early!
The most important item for young school beginners is the school backpack. Everything from the lunch box to the school notebooks is stored here. It’s best to get advice from a specialist store when buying. Factors like the child’s size and weight play a big role in the purchase. After all, the backpack should be ergonomically adapted to the child’s back. When it comes to appearance, let the child decide. Our tip: don’t buy the backpack too early. Tastes change quickly in little ones. Often, the backpack comes as a set, including the matching lunch box, water bottle, and pencil case.
The pencil case – these things are really needed
Our back-to-school checklist naturally includes the pencil case. It should be as sturdy as possible and have elastic loops for individual pens. However, parents often overdo it with the supplies. Fewer pens are needed than many think. The following items should not be missing in the pencil case:
- Fountain pen
- Pencil
- Colored pencils
- Eraser
- Ruler
- Sharpener
- Glue
Supplies for sports and art class
Usually, sports and art are also on the schedule. Therefore, accessories like sports shoes or a paint box should also be considered. The following items are useful for physical education:
- Gym bag
- T-Shirt
- Gym shorts
- Sneakers
- Water bottle
In art class, the following supplies are often needed:
- Paint box
- Brush
- Water cup
- Drawing pad DIN A3
Our tip: Don’t be too hasty when buying and wait for the first days of school. In the first lessons, children are usually told exactly what they need. This way you avoid unnecessary expenses.
Other materials for starting school
In addition to the right writing utensils, other materials like school notebooks must not be missing. Here too: wait first. Teachers often have specific ideas about the size and cover of each notebook. Our back-to-school checklist also includes the following must-haves:
- Lunchbox
- Water bottle
- Homework notebook
- Umbrella
- Wallet
- If necessary, key case
A healthy snack is especially important at school. Check out our recipe ideas for school snacks.
Back-to-school checklist: the tradition of the school cone
If your little ABC beginner is just starting school, a school cone (Schultüte) should not be missing from the back-to-school checklist. Here too: let the child decide on the design and look. But be careful: it’s best not to buy the school cone too early. It is then filled with a colorful mix of toys, sweets, or school supplies. Small gifts like puzzle booklets, modeling clay, learning games & Co. are ideal here. Accessories for the play kitchen or the toy shop are also very popular. We have selected the top 3 gift tips from the howa range with a learning effect:
You can easily view the products by clicking on the respective link and order directly in the howa online shop!
How to make the transition from kindergarten to school easier for the little ones
Starting school is also an important milestone in every child’s development. For this reason, we have included a few behavioral rules for parents on our back-to-school checklist. The following things make it easier for the kids to start school:
- A structured daily routine with enough sleep
- Praise for learning achievements – no matter how small
- Understanding and encouragement
- Enough freedom for hobbies
- Let go and also let the little ones do things on their own sometimes
Image rights: © iStock / Zeljkosantrac
