As your kids go back to school, it's time to stock them up on crayons, colored pencils, markers, and scissors, making you wonder where last year's supply has disappeared to. School supplies shopping might be fun and exciting for new parents but can quickly become a tedious chore for others.
Fortunately, School Supply Boxes has got you covered with their kits filled with all the essentials your little ones might need for elementary school. We've included a list of 9 other things your child might require, as well as a buying guide to assist you in making a thorough and complete school supplies list!
Check out the basic school essentials for kids of all ages. What's more, we've picked out the best ones per category and included some crucial customer feedback to help you with your purchase.
$29.99
Category | Arts and crafts materials |
---|---|
Details | Supply box with pencil case, markers, crayons, colored pencils, glue sticks, erasers, and more |
$10.57
Category | Study materials |
---|---|
Details | Includes ruler, protractor, set squares, compass, pencil, eraser sharpener, and more |
$8.99
Category | Organization |
---|---|
Details | File folder with 13 individual pockets, a front pocket for other materials, and more |
$9.12
Category | Arts and craft materials |
---|---|
Details | Training scissors with blunt blades and is spring-assisted |
$20.99
Category | Arts and crafts materials |
---|---|
Details | Includes glitter, pompoms, buttons, popsicle sticks, feathers, pipe cleaners, and more |
$12.49
Category | Study materials |
---|---|
Details | 150 wood case #2 HB pre-sharpened pencils |
$3.59
Category | Organization |
---|---|
Details | Sixty 4 x 6 in. ruled notes with tabs |
$9.49
Category | Organization |
---|---|
Details | Large capacity pencil case with two zipper openings |
$8.99
Category | Study materials |
---|---|
Details | 8 x 10.5 in. size, 70 sheets, perforated edges, college-ruled |
Image | 1 ![]() School Supply Boxes | 2 ![]() Helix | 3 ![]() Sooez | 4 ![]() Wescott | 5 ![]() Blue Squid | 6 ![]() AmazonBasics | 7 ![]() Redi-Tag | 8 ![]() Easthill | 9 ![]() Sharpie | 10 ![]() Oxford |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | School Supply Kit | Oxford Metallics Rose Gold Maths Set | Expanding File Folder with Sticky Labels | Preschool Training Scissors | Arts and Craft Supplies for Kids | Pre-sharpened Wood Cased #2 HB Pencils | Divider Sticky Notes | Large Capacity Pencil Pen Case Bag | Liquid Highlighters | 1-Subject Notebooks |
Features | A Complete Back-To-School Supply Kit For Young Students | The Complete Math Set | A Handy and Versatile File Folder Organizer | Safe Scissors For Beginners | The All-in-One Arts and Crafts Kit | Always Have a Pre-Sharpened Pencil Ready | A Versatile Reminder System | A Convenient, Heavy-Duty Pencil Case | Trusted Markers For Swift Highlighting | Durable, Smooth, and Versatile College-Ruled Notebooks |
Price | $29.99 | $10.57 | $8.99 | $9.12 | $20.99 | $12.49 | $3.59 | $9.49 | $8.78 | $8.99 |
Category | Arts and crafts materials | Study materials | Organization | Arts and craft materials | Arts and crafts materials | Study materials | Organization | Organization | Study materials | Study materials |
Details | Supply box with pencil case, markers, crayons, colored pencils, glue sticks, erasers, and more | Includes ruler, protractor, set squares, compass, pencil, eraser sharpener, and more | File folder with 13 individual pockets, a front pocket for other materials, and more | Training scissors with blunt blades and is spring-assisted | Includes glitter, pompoms, buttons, popsicle sticks, feathers, pipe cleaners, and more | 150 wood case #2 HB pre-sharpened pencils | Sixty 4 x 6 in. ruled notes with tabs | Large capacity pencil case with two zipper openings | 10 colors | 8 x 10.5 in. size, 70 sheets, perforated edges, college-ruled |
Link |
Let's get down to the buying guide designed to help you prepare your child's (or children's) school supplies for this year. You can go at it by grade level or supplies that are more subject-specific. There's also the techy stuff and organization hacks to consider to make the school year more convenient for everyone.
A student's school supplies list varies by grade, especially when they're in preschool, grade school (elementary, middle, and junior high), or high school. You can tackle school supplies shopping according to level. Mentioned below are the fundamental essentials for learning according to grade.
Children at this level need the basics because they're still developing fine and gross motor skills. Pencils and other writing materials need to be fatter or bigger for better grip. For example, they would need jumbo crayons instead of the regular-sized ones.
Safety is another important consideration at this age. Scissors must have a blunt tip and safe blades that won't cut a child's fingers. They should be easy to grasp and work with, like those that have built-in springs to assist the little fingers in cutting.
For sharpeners, choose one that can accommodate bigger writing or drawing instruments and one with a protected blade sealed shut in a compartment that's not easy to open.
You also have craft materials that double as sensory aids such as play dough, yarn, and pipe cleaners. Pre-schoolers can harness their creativity and imagination while developing fine motor skills as they go about making art projects.
With grade-schoolers doing more writing, notebooks, pens, pencils, and markers are a few of the essential supplies to grab. In elementary school, their previously jumbo-sized supplies transition to the "older kids" version. Crayons are now thin and short, while scissors have a sharper tip, for example.
Meanwhile, middle or junior high students would be introduced to research papers, so grab index cards, highlighters, and other relevant tools to enhance their learning experience. They could also opt for mechanical pencils or glue sticks instead of regular pencils and liquid glue.
As their math subjects progress, they would need a compass, ruler, and protractor, which can be used until college, so the pricey yet sturdy options could be a worthwhile investment.
Fortunately, the school supplies list for high schoolers isn't as vast as their predecessors, with many of the study materials being provided by the teachers. They need many pens, paper, notebooks, and study assists (post-its, highlighters, white-outs, calculators, an more), though. There are also more textbooks in high school, so students might need book covers to keep them protected for future reference.
To keep random sheets of paper from piling up in a school bag, file organizers, whether the accordion-type or a simple folder, are essential for high school students. These protect very important papers they've worked hard on or keep their printed study materials in good condition and prevent them from getting lost or misplaced.
As their subjects increase, the information they're learning could also use organization. Notebooks and binders with dividers may be beneficial in this scenario.
High school supplies are arguably the most expensive because the subjects get more complex and require special equipment and tools, such as a scientific calculator instead of your regular ones. They might also need more tech-based supplies for extra-curricular subjects such as Adobe Photoshop or other paid software for computer class.
On top of notebooks, writing utensils, and arts and crafts materials, each subject may also require more specific supplies that vary per grade. For example, a student may need a lab kit for chemistry or a microscope for biology. While these should be readily available at school, parents who homeschool should check the curriculum in advance for additional supplies to acquire.
Other examples include simple motors for their projects introducing how machines work, magnets or batteries for physics, learning models for biology (like the skeletal system, DNA, and more) or a Helix Oxford Maths Set.
The last one is an expanded version of your standard compass and protractor set with a few extras such as set squares, fact sheets, and time tables. This set can last throughout middle school until college.
For recess or lunch, a reliable lunchbox that's insulated and spill-proof is essential to have (check out our school lunch boxes article for more recommendations!).
Other supplementary learning tools are charts, diagrams, or flashcards. The first two could be hung at home or in your home classroom to serve as study guides. Meanwhile, flashcards and study cards are your child's handy tools for additional review or memorization.
A lot of schools and homeschools nowadays have tech-based learning. This encompasses e-learning tools like tablets, laptops, mouse, wrist pads, mousepads, and the like. For example, in a computer class, students need USBs or a mouse, keyboard, and mousepad (unless already provided).
Perhaps the curriculum calls for a beginner's robots or machines kit if they're taking a robotics class. Schools also incorporate technology into their classes, such as using tablets in place of print out materials to minimize waste. Your child might be required to bring their own device or download the needed e-learning materials.
Binders, file organizers, pencil cases, or subject dividers for notebooks are a few examples of organizing hacks for school supplies, making learning more convenient for students.
At home, you can also consider getting a storage container to keep all school-related supplies. This can keep the clutter neatly stored in its designated place and make it easy for kids to grab what they need. You can also consider getting label stickers or a label maker to mark each compartment accordingly. No more wasted time searching where those extra pencils are.
From pencils to paper - you can never have too many of certain school supplies, so it's recommended to buy them in bulk. Doing so could save you a few trips to the store or repeat purchases of the same item.
For example, art paper is used from preschool until middle school; meanwhile, bond paper is used throughout the school years, from preschool to college, so don't be afraid of picking up too much!
Looking for more essential tools your kids can take to school? Look no further! Check out our recommended products to make your child's school life as swift as can be.
Who knew school supplies shopping could be stress-free? With a click of a button, parents can now get their child's essentials delivered to their doorstep. This is even more rewarding if you have kids across different levels!
Author: Hana Otsuka
Household goods
Home electronics, PC, camera
Cosmetics and skincare
Food and drinks
Kitchen supplies
Clothing
Shoes
Accessories
Kids and baby
Interior and furniture
Hobbies
Outdoor
DIY and tools
Sports and fitness
Pets
Books, CDs, DVDs
Games
Cars and motorcycles
Gifts
Housing equipment and renovation
Smartphones and mobile phones
Mobile data
Investment and asset management
Credit cards and loans
Insurance
Music
Smartphone applications