School Supplies
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Kangaroom Storage Kids Desktop Organizer
Whether your elementary schooler has a touch of OCD or is completely disorganized, they will love this handy-dandy all-in-one organizer from Kangaroom. With a spot to hold every school supply, not to mention a dry-erase surface for notes and doodles, this organizer will ensure your kid kicks off the school year in an orderly fashion.
$25 at Great Useful Stuff | Buy
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The Lunch Box
Another year of packing nutritious school lunches is upon us. You’ll find inspiration and recipes in The Lunch Box, even if your kid insists on peanut butter and jelly every day.
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Lunch Lines
As the kids get older, a sweet lunchbox note with hugs and kisses from mom is less appreciated. A joke here and there? They’ll love it. The hugs and kisses are implied.
$10 at Paper Source | Buy
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Rubbermaid Litterless Juice Box
This little gem has been around for a while. It’s re-usable and BPA-free like all the others out there, but it’s small enough to fit in a lunchbox with plenty of room left for snacks.
$3 at The Container Store | Buy
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School Years
It’s not too late to transform that ever-growing box of school pictures and report cards into a memory book. This spiral-bound album makes it easy.
$17 at Chronicle Books | Buy
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MadPax Later Gator Lunch Box
No cutesy characters here, just fierce spikes and an awesome gator design. Perfect for eating lunch in reptilian style.
$32 at Polka Dot Peacock | Buy
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No. 2 Pencils
School supply list: 36 sharpened pencils. Save yourself some time with a few packs of Ticonderoga pre-sharpened pencils. You’re welcome.
$8 at Amazon Supply | Buy
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My Little Lamb Bookplates
Keep your little lamb’s books in order (and in her possession) with this sweetly illustrated set of bookplates.
$9 at Sarah Jane Studios | Buy
(Set of 15)
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Back To School Lunch Notes
Calm the first day jitters with an encouraging note tucked into your kiddo’s lunch box.
$10 at Pottery Barn Kids | Buy
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Pencil Case
Never get caught unprepared for a standardized test: Keep your pencils in check in their very own case.
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Goodbyn Lunch Kit
Skip the plastic bags and juice boxes and pack lunch in a sturdy BPA-free plastic lunch tote. The Goodbyn’s compartments keep foods separate and fresh and comes with a reusable water bottle and sheets of stickers for customizing.
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Recycled Paper Pencils
There’s nothing like a fresh pack of pencils just waiting to get writing. Go green and stock up on Moxie Pear’s eco-friendly pencils made of recycled paper.
$4 at Moxie Pear | Buy
(Set of 3)
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Sparkle Junior Backpack
Start the school year off with a bang- and a lot of sparkle. Durable to withstand the wear and tear of all the books and homework, and shiny enough to make your little student happy, this sequined backpack is a double-pleaser. Everyone gets an A+!
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Baby Color Crayons
Creative crayons will make little artists very happy. These are easy to grip, safe to use (zero choking hazard here) and stackable for minimal clean-up. Let Picasso Jr. color his little heart out.
$22 at Tortoise General Store | Buy
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Julius! Note Set
Send your little camper away for the summer with a backpack full of these quirky note cards featuring Paul Franks’ famous monkey Julius. Instruct your kid to write home often, and to please not grow up too quickly.
$11 at Chronicle Books | Buy
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This Is How I Roll Backpack
Uniquely cool backpack for an older child…or you.
(Rainbowswirlz)
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Jansport Superbreak Classic Backpack
This Oldie-But-Goody standard backpack doesn’t come with any bells and whistles, but the updated patterns (such as Pink Daiquiri Intersect, seen here) give the classic pack a current twist.
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Fjallraven Kanken Mini Backpack
A cool utilitarian backpack from the iconic Swedish brand, which boasts wash-ability and comes with a removable seat cover.
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Pirates Backpack
The bottom of this adorable pirate-themed backpack is reinforced and the lining is water-resistant, should the school day include any swashbuckling or walking the plank.
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Harajuku Lovers Cameo Backpack for Girls
It won’t stay pristine for long, but she’ll be so proud of how trendy she is sporting a look from this juniors’ collection she just might actually take care of it.
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Boys FeatherLight Backpack
Super lightweight backpack with plenty of pockets in a size geared towards smaller kids. The bargain price seals the deal.
$11 at Lands' End | Buy
(On sale; girls styles also available)
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Lego Space School Backpack
This heavy duty backpack comes with a three year warranty, should your amateur astronaut try to shoot it into space (or under the bus).
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Lucky Brand Canvas Backpack
Preppy-chic canvas with leather detailing gives this backpack appeal beyond the K-12 set.
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Quilted Patch Backpack
You see: Quilted material, comfortable straps, affordable price. Your little girl sees: PINK!
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Dabbawalla Pea Pod Backpack
Pint-sized pack for your preschool sweet pea.
$32 at Dabbawalla | Buy
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Rugby Stripe Tote Bag
Backpacks are for little kids and nerds, mom.
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L.L. Bean Rolling Deluxe Book Pack
The gold standard of backpacks gets a modern upgrade with durable wheels to ease the heavy homework load, and the lifetime guarantee means no worries about your kid destroying it.
(On sale now; various colors available)
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Polka Dot Lunchbox
Pack her PB&J in style with a lunchbox that will make the whole cafeteria swoon.
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Cabin and Cub Bookplate Set
Tie these quirky handmade book plates atop a stack of your favorite stories from childhood.
$6 at Cabin Cub Design | Buy
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Rhino, Gorilla and Polar Bear Erasers
Cool erasers automatically score points with grammar school kids, which you can trade in for credibility when you use the word “rad” in front of them.
$12 at Greener Grass Design | Buy
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Personalized Pencils
She uses pencils. She does not use her growing collection of apple-shaped trinket boxes.
via The Amber Show
$9 at Explicitly Yours Pencils | Buy
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Blabla Backpack
Not just a kitty, a pink kitty. Double whammy.
$42 at Layla Grayce | Buy
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Tiny Flag Banner
The inside of her lunchbox lid could use a little somethin’ somethin’.
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Papermate Pink Pearl Eraser
Brand new eraser. Can’t you still smell it?
(For twelve.)
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Teal Herringbone Satchel for Kids
Or you could just use it as a purse.
$85 at Wooly Bison | Buy
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Manhattan Portage Kids’ Backpack
You sew on a patch of this year’s Disney character, rip it off at the end of the year, rinse and repeat.
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Marimekko Flora Backpack
The classic Marmekko print in backpack form. Maybe you can dissuade her from searching for a pink version.
$85 at Unica Home | Buy
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Melissa & Doug Deluxe Alphabet Paper Punch Set
You have a whole year of report covers and dioramas ahead of you.
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Boys personalized first day of school cone
The Schultüte is a gift German parents give to celebrate a child’s first day at school. A sweet tradition I read about on the Back to School Essentials Guide at Alpha Mom
$70 at Chasing Fireflies | Buy
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Jansport Half Pint Daypack
Jansport has dozens of key prints available in its half pint pack, and this is the best price i’ve found. If you like the sturdy, simple design but don’t find any prints on this link that interest you, poke around online and you’re sure to find your ideal.
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Coccoina Adhesive-Glue Stick
A non-toxic glue stick that smells like marzipan, via the always comprehensive back to school guide over at Cool Mom Picks.
$5 at See Jane Work | Buy
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I Love You Letterpress Lunchbox Notes
$15 at YeeHaw's Shop | Buy
(For a set of 20.)
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Smencils 10-Pack
Two cool things about these pencils:
They’re made of recycled newspapers instead of wood.
They smell like food. Specifically bubble gum, grape, chocolate, cotton candy, watermelon, orange, very berry, root beer, cinnamon and tropical blast.
Why is the dog attacking that backpack?
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Rabbit Insulated Lunch Bag
They’re probably still not going to eat the vegetables, but you’ve done what you can.
$10 at Pearl River | Buy
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Heart Puzzle Crayons
The crayons they’ll fight over. Oh good. More fighting. Maybe get a few sets.
$5 at Dusty Moon | Buy
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Drumstick Pencils
It’s these or a drum kit. You decide.
$10 at Perpetual Kid | Buy
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Dino Hearts
$23 at Tiny Prints | Buy
(For 25 cards.)
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Concentrate Fruit Friendly Lunch Box
A lunchbox that keeps fruit from bruising or overheating. No promises if your kid leaves the apple in there for a week though.
via Swiss Miss
$14 at John Lewis | Buy
(Price converted from British pounds)
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R2D2 Backpack
At lunchtime, it sends a mini projection of you telling your kid to eat the apples.
See more at the Cookie Magazine Holiday Gift Guide.
$65 at fred flare | Buy
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Woodless Colored Pencils
Just pigment with a thin coating of lacquer. That means hundreds more drawings of cats per pencil.
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Rocketship Pen
Homework enhancement tool.
$5 at The Paper Princess | Buy
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Rainbow Crayons
I remember marveling at these as a child, and wishing, wishing, wishing Jessica King would finish so I could use one.
$5 at A Toy Garden | Buy
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Copper Hand Bell
Your favorite teacher can use it to ring in the New Year, call kids in from recess, or break through the din of thirty kids yelling at once.
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Chalkboard Message Candle
For penmanship practice at home.
$25 at Barnes & Noble | Buy
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Mustache Pencils
But I can’t pay the rent! But you must pay the rent!
via Black Eiffel
(Price converted from Euros.)
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Animal Balance Erasers
They’re erasers and a balancing game. Probably not a great idea for the kid with ADHD.
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Wrap-N-Mat
No more plastic bags. Bonus – the smug superiority you’ll feel as an environmentally responsible parent.
$7 at Reusable Bags | Buy
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Randoseru
Modern version of the authentic backpack most school children in Japan carry. You have to get the red one.
$399 at Modern Seed | Buy
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Lorraine Lunch Bag
This durable floral sack with ribbon trim will keep your conscience as clear as the landfill. It’s double-lined with a sturdy, reinforced bottom. It’s made of crumple-proof oil cloth, and you can wash it with soap and water if it starts to smell like tuna fish.
$40 at Buy Olympia | Buy
(6.5" x 13.5")
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Laptop Lunch Bento Box Set
A reader wrote in to say: “This is an awesome lunchbox for kids, my standby birthday gift! Compartment setup really encourages people to avoid pre-packaged foods in favor of more eco-friendly (and healthy) options. Everyone on the playground has been asking me about ours.” The site calls them American-style bento boxes and says they’re dishwasher safe. Sounds good to me.
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Daily System
This wall system will keep everything running smoothly once school starts. I recommend one Letter Pocket per kid to keep all their homework and notes from the teacher in one spot. This will reduce the number of times you send your kid to school on a day off by at least 50%.
$49 at Pottery Barn | Buy
(Price varies by pieces ordered.)
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Big Colored Pencils
You can’t beat a brand new box of colored pencils. Except with an extra chunky box of colored pencils.
$9 at fred flare | Buy
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Staple Free Stapler
Instead of staples, attach papers with this clever paper folding gadget. Helpful now that there’s no longer a school nurse to visit when a staple goes into your finger.
$10 at See Jane Work | Buy
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Featherlight Backpack
This backpack is so sturdy, your kid will be carrying it to his first job out of college.
$40 at Land's End | Buy
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Munchlers Lunchbox
I love these insulated bags because they have personality. I also love them because they serve as a place mat for your kids lunch. You know there’s at least one nose picker at every table, and they like to touch everything.
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Kid Lists
Some families want their kids to be involved in sports or to learn to play the piano. I’m really into teaching my kids to be organized.
$5 at See Jane Work | Buy
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Melamine Layers Lunch Box
This colorful lunch box gives you instant portion control, plus eliminates paper lunch bags and sandwich bags without eliciting complaints that the “food was touching.”
$28 at Pearl River | Buy
(Also available in a larger square version.)
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Zoo Shoulder Bag
A roomy bag for overnight visits, carrying show and tell stuff to school, and smuggling the new kitten into the classroom.
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Ultimate Back To School Combo
Labels for fabric, toys, bottles and more. They won’t come off in the dishwasher, microwave, or washing machine. Slap one inside winter hats to make sure no one accidentally shares their head lice with your kid.
$39 at Mabel's Labels | Buy
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Personalized Pencils
In first grade a boy named Brandon let me use one of his personalized pencils. I used it until there was nothing but a stub left.
I thought having a personalized pencil meant you were famous. Brandon’s probably a realtor today.
$5 at Miles Kimball | Buy
(For a set of 12.)
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Pak Nak Charms
The backpack from last year is like new, but they think it’s “boring.” Pak Nak charms let your kids customize just about anything they’d like – backpacks, lunch boxes, folders, head bands, and bike helmets.
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Lion Backpack
Ferocious!
$38 at Chasing Fireflies | Buy
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Crayo-Names
These alphabet crayons are made from recycled crayon wax. Order your kid’s name or nickname, but don’t blame us when he refuses to use his Pookie crayons.
via Cool Mom Picks
$5 at Story Blox | Buy
(For up to six letters.)
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Animal Rubber Bands
These colorful, functional, rubber bands come in a set of twenty-four. They’ll hold their shapes – no matter how, or how often, you use them.
$8 at Wishing Fish | Buy
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Mobi Designer Lunch Bags
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Cap Trapper
Marker caps are always disappearing. Probably to that same lonely bar where all the lost socks hang out.
$6 at Savvy May Creations | Buy
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Post-It Sketch and Stick Pad
Magnets don’t stick to your Sub-Zero. Don’t worry your fridge can still be an art gallery.
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Walking Triceratops Pencil Sharpener
This triceratops sharpens your pencil and then walks around your desk. It doesn’t know how to get coffee which is probably why it went extinct.
$7 at Rev Design | Buy
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Set of 100 Markers
This set of markers makes my daughter feel like a “real” artist. And with her pointed lack of interest in my cooking, she’ll be a starving artist in no time.
$20 at Dick Blick | Buy
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Secret Message Set
Lets her protect her journal from snooping little brothers.
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Lunchbag Combo Pack
Is your kid possessive or gregarious? These bags take the guesswork out of lunchtime trades.
$8 at Supergirl Stickers | Buy
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Castanet Scissors
When these scissors cut they make a satisfying click, like castanets. This design is great for building manual dexterity in young kids and the click will warn you if they’re cutting your drapes.
$16 at MOMA Store | Buy
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Modern Flowers Bookplates
No one’s gonna take your kid’s Dr Suess book and get away with it.
$25 at Blonde Designs | Buy
(For a set of 50.)
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Wind Up Robot Pencil Sharpeners
You told them they can’t have a robot to do their homework, but you can give them one to sharpen their pencils.
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Snake Bike Lock
A real snake might work better, but school administrators frown on venomous security devices.
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Big Kid Penguin Backpack
A lot better than a monkey on your back.
$46 at itty bitty ladybug | Buy






























































































































