The school year is just around the corner, which means it’s time to put together your child’s back-to-school kit. We’ll show you how to make sure the back-to-school kit isn’t a waste of money but a well-thought-out purchase – one that lets your child walk into school with a smile while you keep your peace of mind.
What do you need for school?
The list of required supplies is usually provided by the school before lessons start. We’ll focus on the items you won’t find in the notes from the class teacher, but which will make the back-to-school kit complete in every respect.
A kit for a first-year pupil – what does a child need during their first moments at school?
For a first-year pupil, the backpack will be a very important matter. Of course, let your child choose their first school bag themselves, but explain the important selection criteria we mention above in detail. Let a first-year pupil’s backpack be comfortable, safe and something the child likes, so they’ll be happy to carry it.
Apart from that, a child starting their school adventure needs a proper kit made up of many items. The list of essentials is quite long, and in the rush of emotions and duties that come with sending a child to school it’s easy to forget some things – which is why we’ve prepared a downloadable checklist for you.
The basic back-to-school kit
Children going into year 2 or 3 don’t need a new backpack if the one bought earlier is still doing its job – and the same goes for the pencil case and most other supplies. The basic kit for second- and third-year pupils will be new exercise books and textbooks, plus any supplies or accessories that have been damaged or used up.
Children going into year 4 or 5, on the other hand, may already need extra school supplies such as a pair of compasses, a protractor, a set square and thicker 32-page or 64-page exercise books. At this age, a child’s individual preferences regarding their backpack, pencil case and other school accessories may also start to emerge, so you may need to allow for some additional expense.
The back-to-school kit for children going into years 6, 7 and 8 should already be tailored to the teachers’ expectations – they sometimes have specific preferences when it comes to exercise books, PE kit or other additional accessories.
A well-chosen school backpack is the foundation
A school backpack first and foremost has to look great to the person using it 🙂 Beyond that, it should not only hold all the supplies, books and packed lunch, but also avoid straining a young person’s still-developing spine.
The most important guidelines for choosing a child’s backpack come down to keeping the right proportions. Namely:
- the weight of the packed backpack should not exceed 10-15% of the child’s weight,
- the width of the backpack must not exceed the width of the shoulders,
- the length of the backpack must not extend more than 8 cm below the waist.
According to the Chief Sanitary Inspectorate (GIS), a school backpack should have a stiffened back panel that rests against the back – reinforced with foam or sponge, for example. Compartments and pockets are also important, as they help distribute the weight of the contents evenly. Extra chest and waist straps serve a similar purpose.
It seems like a huge amount to remember, and it may have crossed your mind to cleverly sidestep all these guidelines and go for a wheeled backpack. We strongly advise against it!
Bear in mind that children usually pull such backpacks with one hand. This creates a one-sided load, which in turn leads to curvature of the spine. What’s more, most schools have stairs – and then your child has to carry on their shoulders not just the weight of the books but of the whole backpack, which in this case is heavier than its non-wheeled equivalent.
Reflectors for your child
Look after your child’s safety when they’re walking home or heading to after-school activities. Reflectors come in the form of hard pendants in fun shapes, flexible bands you can wrap around a buckle or backpack handle, or stickers. They can go wonderfully with the print on a backpack or a child’s jacket, and they cost very little. This small thing can save a life! In the dark, without reflective elements, we’re visible in dipped headlights from a distance of just 20 – 30 metres. With reflectors, a driver can see us 5-10 times sooner. As you can see – it’s worth it.
We’ve written more about reflectors on our blog.
A tracker for school treasures and more
Children often forget their things. Protect their beloved backpacks, pencil cases, superhero gym bags or house keys with a notiOne tracker. With a tracker for your child, they won’t get lost so easily 🙂
Keep an eye on your child, too – we know that kids, especially older ones, never part with their phones. By adding “another phone with notiOne” in the free app, you get a view of your child’s smartphone location.
Read more about discreetly keeping an eye on your child’s location.
What else do you think should be on the list: “Back-to-school kit – must-haves”? 🙂
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