We're willing to bet that few parents would rank “back-to-school shopping” as a favorite activity. The good news: A little preparation goes a long way. Compiling a supply list of all the necessary school supplies in advance gives you ample time to acquire everything your child needs—without running around frantically the last day of summer.
The best school supplies for each child depends on grade and classroom. So it's important to consult your child's teacher to learn whether they have any preferences or restrictions regarding the types of supplies your child brings to school. That said, you can anticipate that the basics will remain pretty much the same. Let the following school supplies lists serve as your basic guide to make the back-to-school shopping just a little bit easier and ensure your child is well-prepared to hit the ground running when school begins.
Kindergarten
As you may expect, the best school supplies for kindergarteners revolve around tactile activities such as arts and crafts. Crayons, markers, construction paper, and similar items are all standard supplies for kindergarteners, but there are a few other things that should also make your list.
- Backpack (fitted to your child's frame)
- Colored pencils
- Construction paper (in a variety of colors)
- Crayons
- Erasers
- Folders (made from a durable material)
- Glue sticks
- Lunch box or bag
- Markers (washable and in a variety of colors)
- No. 2 pencils
- Notebook or note pad (wide ruled)
- Pencil box
- Pencil grips (if your child has trouble holding onto pens or pencils)
- Pencil sharpener (portable and sized to accommodate pencils and crayons)
- Scissors (blunt tipped for safety)
- Tissues
First Through Third Grade
The school supplies list for elementary students in first through third grade shares similarities with the supplies list for kindergarteners, but a few additional items (such as index cards and pens) represent the slightly more advanced curricula for this age group.
- Backpack (fitted to your child's frame)
- Colored pencils
- Construction paper (in a variety of colors)
- Crayons
- Erasers
- Folders (made from a durable material)
- Glue sticks
- Lunch box or bag
- Markers (washable and in a variety of colors)
- No. 2 pencils
- Notebook (wide-ruled) or loose-leaf paper in a binder
- Pencil box
- Pencil grips (if your child has trouble holding onto pens or pencils)
- Pencil sharpener (portable and sized to accommodate pencils and crayons)
- Scissors (blunt tipped for safety)
- Tissues
- Water bottles (spill-proof)
Fourth through Sixth Grade
You'll notice that the school supplies list for elementary students in fourth through sixth grade differs significantly from the school supplies lists for kindergarteners and younger elementary students. That's because students in this age range tackle more advanced curricula, and supplies such as calculators, protractors, and graph paper can help.
- Backpack (fitted to your child's frame)
- Book covers
- Calculator
- Calendar or personal organizer
- Colored pencils
- Combination lock (if your student uses a locker)
- Erasers
- Folders
- Glue
- Graph paper
- Highlighters
- Index cards
- Lunch bag
- Markers
- No. 2 pencils
- Notebooks (spiral-bound) or loose-leaf paper to fill a three-hole binder
- Pens (ballpoint)
- Pencil box or pouch
- Pencil sharpener (portable)
- Post-it notes
- Protractor
- Ruler (12-inch)
- Scissors
- Subject dividers
- Three-hole punch
- Three-ring binder
- Tissues
- Water bottle (spill-proof)
- White-out
If you have funds left over after purchasing your child's supplies, consider asking the classroom teacher if there are any special needs for the classroom. Many teachers today rely on donations to properly stock classrooms, so your contributions can go a long way toward ensuring both your child and his or her classmates have the resources they need to thrive at school.
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Abby Quillen
Environmental & Personal Wellness Expert
