Gah! It’s already back-to-school time for the kiddos! Where has the summer gone?! I’ve now been sending kids to school for almost a decade, and I’ve definitely learned a thing or two along the way. For example, I used to make sure we were back in town at least a week before the first day of school…now we literally drive back from vacation the morning of Meet The Teacher sometimes. Ha! But it’s true that there is only so much preparation you can do. A lot of it comes on the job, as they say, and getting the kids set with clothes and shoes that fit them, quality backpacks and lunch bags, tricks to keep them organized, and some fun accessories that give them a little flair– that’s what I can do as a Mom in terms of preparation. And I’ve definitely found my favorites in those categories as well!

This year, I have a child in their last year of preschool, a second grader, and a child in their last year of elementary school! It feels like the beginning of the end of an era for sure. Whereas this time last year, the Bigs were SO nervous as they prepared to enter a brand new school for the first time, this year they are counting down the days to see their friends and favorite teachers again. It’s amazing how much self-growth, confidence, and actual bodily growth can happen in just a year with kids! With Mateo, back to school is usually minimal because I end up investing in great pieces for Maj that I pass on to him. But for the two big kids, I feel like they grow an inch a week! I’m sharing a bunch of my favorite Back-to-school must-haves in several categories below….

School Clothes

My kids are rough on their clothes. I normally like to find well-made but inexpensive options for t-shirts, pants, socks, and underwear, and then invest in better quality items for sweaters and things that can last passed down the row.

Accessories

Hats, Hair accessories, keychains, etc. give the kids a little flair they can show off to their friends at school.

Outerwear

I love buying back-to-school outerwear! I normally make sure each kid has a lighter jacket (barn jacket, bomber, or similar), a rain jacket, a vest, and a puffy jacket each year. Plus a zip-up fleece! Extra points if there are offerings in more “unisex” colors so I can pass ’em down the row.

School Supplies

I usually buy new backpacks every 2 years. They are always so excited to pick them out. State Backpacks are a fave for quality, but if you don’t want that price tag, I’m linking some Zara ones below that are also so cool. Each kid also has their own, different, snack/lunch bags so we can tell them apart easily.

Organizational Hacks

Marlowe needs a lot of help with staying organized, so I got scheduling notebooks for both big kids to keep them on track this year. I also always get a big calendar for our mud room with everybody’s activities written on there, so they can get a sense of their own schedules. Name labels are a must, too!

Photographs by Julia Dags | Copyright © 2024 Happily Eva After, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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