Our Top Essentials for the New School Year

The crème de la crème of backpacks, this one by Bentgo does it all. It has all the things you’d want from a backpack, plus an insulated lunch bag built in to keep your kiddos' lunch fresh till lunchtime. We love that it fits multiple notebooks (and has space for a tablet) as well as other essentials like pens, clothes etc. Plus, it’s got the requisite water bottle compartment on the side for easy access (and reduced spilling). With over 14 styles to choose from, there’s one for everyone.

For the littler ones, we love State’s Mini Kane backpack which is perfect for preschool. This is the bag I bought my daughter when her teacher announced that she’d need a “practice backpack.” It’s pint-sized, but holds a surprising amount of stuff, including a small lunchbox, water bottle, a sweatshirt, and a few pairs of extra underwear. You know, the essentials. I looooove the chic metallic colorways which are both fun and a differentiator in the classroom.

There are a million bento boxes out there, but this one is just the best. Trust me on this one. We’ve used ours every school day for 3.5 years straight and it shows no signs of slowing down, despite running it through the dishwasher every single night. I love that it’s got ample space for different foods, but its thin profile makes it easy to slip into a backpack. We put ours in the matching lunchboxes with equally low profile ice packs, but it’s spill-proof, so if you don’t need insulation you could just throw it right into your bag. It’s made with stainless steel so it’s naturally nontoxic. Truly a perfect lunch box.

One thing hasn’t changed since I was back to school shopping for myself some 20+ years ago, and that’s the popularity of gel pens. Originally “Gelly Rolls,” this popular pen comes in many variations today. And these from Ooly are my absolute favorite. They last forever, the colors are vibrant, and the slight scent is so fun for kids. My four-year-old loves them just as much as the love-letter-writing tween, so you really can’t go wrong. While you’re on the Ooly site, don’t miss their other goodies, like these fun highlighters or the classic scented eraser.

Snack time is arguably just as important as lunch time, and this snackbox by b.box doesn’t disappoint. Featuring two spacious compartments, its opportunities are endless: fill it with carrots and hummus, crackers and cheese, or any other classic combination. I love that the top is made of a stretchy silicon, so it can actually hold an entire piece of fruit. It’s made from lightweight materials and is fully leakproof, so bringing it anywhere is a piece of cake.

Another fan favorite, the Yeti. My cabinets are full of them – we’ve got the to-go coffee cup, the oversized water bottle, even the wine glass. So of course, I had to get these adorable mini Yeti for my girls. They’re a bit heavy, but I love that they’re nontoxic and dishwasher safe, unlike many water bottles on the market. There are no hard-to-clean parts that leave your water bottle gross and moldy. Plus, they come in these adorable colors (we have purple and pink) and for a little extra, you can have them monogrammed with your child’s name so you never have to worry about labels falling off.

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