Preparing for your child’s school day and wondering what essentials should find their way into their school bag? You’re not alone. Many parents aim to strike a balance between ensuring their child is well-equipped for the day and avoiding overburdening them with unnecessary items.
Fortunately, there’s a checklist of essentials that can guide you to pack the right items, ensuring your child is prepared for various school activities while keeping the bag’s weight manageable.
I’ve zipped together a comprehensive guide detailing the must-have items for your child’s school bag.
Let’s unpack this together, item by item, ensuring your child heads to school with everything they need for a productive and hassle-free day.
What Should I Put in My Child’s School Bag for a preschooler
| Item Category | Specific Items |
|---|---|
| Snacks & Lunch | Lunchbox with healthy snacks (fruits, cut-up veggies, crackers), water bottle or sippy cup, utensils (child-sized fork and spoon). |
| Change of Clothes | Complete change of clothes (shirt, pants, underwear, socks), especially important for accidents or messy play. |
| Personal Care Items | Small pack of tissues, wet wipes, hand sanitizer, face mask (if required), small comb or brush, diaper or pull-up (if still in use) along with small pack of baby wipes. |
| Comfort Items | A favorite toy or comfort object (if allowed and if it helps with transitions), blanket for naptime (if the school requires it). |
| Learning & Art Supplies | Crayons, safety scissors, glue stick, notebook or drawing pad (if not provided by the preschool). |
| Identification & Info | Emergency contact information, any important medical information (e.g., allergies). |
| Weather-Appropriate Items | Hat and sunscreen (for sunny days), raincoat or small umbrella (for rainy days), sweater or jacket for cooler weather. |
| Backpack Label | Clearly label the backpack with the child’s name and contact information. |
| Miscellaneous | Any special items the school requests, such as show-and-tell objects or materials for special projects, nap mat or sleeping bag if required for naptime. |
Ah, the day has come when they are finally starting school! I bet they have talked of little else for months! You’ve done the list, the uniform, the pe kit, the kids school bag. Now.. you need to consider what to put in the bag.
A light rain coat or a mall foldaway umbrella if you walk to school.
A spare pair of underwear. Even if your child is completely potty trained, school days can be very anxious for them, and also very tiring. Many children who have never wet themselves at school and have spare underwear or trousers will be very helpful.
Packed lunch if they’re having it. Remember to check the school policy on lunch. Many don’t allow any sweets or fizzy drinks. We love lunch boxes with different compartments so you can mix up the lunch whilst still ensuring they get a wide spread of foods.
Book Bag or homework bag. Many children will be given a folder or bag for their school work. Check this every night to see what they have to do (for young children its usually just a 5-10 minute homework session) or for any notes the teacher may have sent you.
Whilst many schools now run text services, teachers still often do personal notes in childrens bags.
A reusable water bottle, every day! Put their name or some distinguishing features on it, you will be amazed how many of the same brand or type might be in the same class. If you have bought a quality water bottle like Klean Kanteen or fosh, you don’t want it going missing!
You might want to leave the following in school:
Change of clothes. For any accidents that may occur, from ripped trousers, to toilet accidents to even spilling something all over themselves!
PE Kit.This may or may not be needed and may need to go in weekly, usually in a separate bag.
Suncream, seasonally. Schools often request suncream to be sent in sunny weather.
Pencil case with pencils. Children will like to feel grown up and might love having their very own grown up pencil case complete with pencils in.
Don’t be tempted to put the kitchen sink into the bag. Keep it light enough for them. The weight of the bag should be no more than 10-15% of the weight of the child.
Also don’t put any toys or gadgets in the bag, schools will probably have a policy on these in any case so again worth checking with the school in advance.
A worry doll. If your child is anxious about school you can consider giving them a tiny worry doll to put into their bag or something else from home that they know they can hold to help them with their anxiety.
A pack of tissues or a reusable wipe may also be useful. So many bugs go around toddlers and reception classes that having something to wipe their noses with may prove very useful!
