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The Best School Supplies

Last updated on March 15, 2024

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Toward the end of summer, every parent gets ready to do some back-to-school shopping. School-supply shopping is a fun activity you can do with your children, getting them excited to get back in the classroom with their teachers and friends. As your kids get older, they may even want to try school supply shopping on their own.

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It can be overwhelming to know what to get for your child. When you’re getting ready to buy school supplies, be sure to take a look at your supplies from the year before. Do you have anything leftover that can still be used this year? While some markers and highlighters may dry out from year to year, it’s likely that many items can still be used again. This way, you don’t have to buy duplicates of school supplies.

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Consider what your child needs for school. You can start by making a list of the essentials for their class or subjects. Some schools also provide a list of recommended school supplies to have. This is a good starting point to use when making your back-to-school shopping list for your kids. Then, you can tailor the recommended list to your child’s needs and interests. For example, if you know they love bright colors, grab an extra pack of markers. If they’re obsessed with crafts, put a few glue sticks into your shopping cart.

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In some schools, it’s a big help when parents provide a few extra supplies for the classroom for the children to share. While many schools supply the basics, it’s nice to be able to provide a few extra things for the whole class. Sometimes teachers have recommendations for these items as well, which often include glitter, glue, paint, construction paper and pencils.

Our Picks For The Top School Supplies

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Product Overview
Our Take
 Best Glue Sticks

Elmer’s All Purpose School Glue Sticks, 30-Count

Don't Waste Your Money Seal of Approval

Elmer's

All Purpose School Glue Sticks, 30-Count

This is the perfect glue to use at school because it works on several different types of materials. It also goes on smooth without any clumps. Plus, it dries quickly so you can avoid any mess.

Overall Take

Bonds to Several MaterialsThis glue stick works on paper, cardboard, foam board, display board and more.

 Best for Writing

Pentel ZEH10BCBP2 Hi-Polymer Block Eraser, 2-Pack

Pentel

Hi-Polymer Block Eraser, 2-Pack

You can erase pencil markings and help fund breast cancer research in one move. This eraser removes pencil markings cleanly and easily. Plus, it doesn’t crack or harden after use.

Overall Take

Help Erase Breast CancerFive cents from the purchase of this eraser goes to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

 Best for Math

Fat Zebra Designs Dry Erase Lapboards & Markers, 30-Piece

Fat Zebra Designs

Dry Erase Lapboards & Markers, 30-Piece

These dry erase boards are the ideal choice for environmentally friendly families and schools. Each board has a special coating to prevent bleeding and smearing. The eraser ensures that no marks are left behind.

Overall Take

Eco-Friendly OptionStop wasting paper with these double-sided boards made for endless learning.

 Best Complete Set

Crayola K-8 Back to School Essentials Supply Kit

Crayola

K-8 Back to School Essentials Supply Kit

Perfect for busy families, this kit comes with all of the essentials for the classroom. This kit includes pencils, erasers, glue and scissors. It also comes with washable markers and colored pencils.

Overall Take

Everything Your Child NeedsDon’t worry about school supply shopping when you can get it all at once.

What to Look For

  • When you’re purchasing school supplies for your children before they head off to school, be sure to check that the items are age-appropriate. This is especially important for young children who are entering their first few years of school. For example, instead of regular scissors, you’ll need to get safety scissors that don’t have a sharp point at the end. Be sure to check that your kids can open, close and use all of the school supplies by themselves. It’s great to practice a few times before they head off to school.
  • When there are several children in a classroom together, they are bound to show up with some of the exact same school supplies. If those get mixed together, they could forget which ones belong to them. Friends may even take items that don’t belong to them by mistake. That’s why it’s best to label the large items with your child’s name to reduce any misunderstandings.
  • If you’re not sure which items to get for your child and you don’t have many supplies leftover from last year, consider getting a school supplies kit. This is a set that includes the essentials your child will need, all packaged together so you don’t have to purchase them individually. It’s a great time-saver for busy parents.
  • In addition to the school supplies, make sure your child has a way to store and organize their supplies — both at home and at school. This way, they won’t lose or forget their school supplies anywhere.

More to Explore

The humble eraser is one of the most basic school supplies that kids use in the classroom. Did you know that at one point, bread was used as an eraser? While pencils have been around for hundreds of years, pencil erasers are relatively new, only first discovered in the late 1700s. Before then, bread was the pencil eraser of choice. It was the perfect material and consistency to erase graphite pencil markings. However, bread was not a durable choice because it eventually gets stale. Only moist and fresh bread works as an eraser. Engineer Edward Narine discovered that rubber was a better eraser than bread when he accidentally used it instead of the delicious carb.

More to explore