What Kids Actually Need for Back to School, According to Parents and Experts

You can’t go wrong with a timeless L.L. Bean backpack, which has been making the back-to-school rounds since 1982. The main compartment is big enough for books, a lunchbox, and more. The smaller pocket has a key clip and a little organizer, perfect for keeping lunch money or other essentials close.

These compartments do more than offer organization: They “distribute the backpack load and place heavier items closest to the child’s back,” says Troy Smurawa, MD, at Children’s Health Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine in Plano, Texas.

This L.L. Bean backpack has gotten some modern upgrades since its debut and now features a water-bottle holder on the side. One of the main reasons it made our list is for its padded back panel and reinforced padded straps. Padded shoulders and a padded back offer more comfort when carrying a backpack, says Dr. Kirkilas.

The backpack comes in a bunch of colors, from classic black to fun patterns. It’s also available in two sizes: 17 or 24 liters (L).

Toddlers and little kids haul around a surprising amount of stuff for such small humans. (Think: water bottles, lunchboxes, artwork, the occasional note from school.) This backpack is built with all of that in mind. And its compartments actually make sense for little kids handling their own bag, maybe for the first time.

The straps are adjustable and padded, so they’re comfortable on small shoulders. Plus, the chest buckle keeps the bag from sliding around. It comes in two sizes: medium (12 L) and large (18 L). A wide range of fun patterns are available, including both licensed designs (Disney, Pixar) and Simple Modern’s own prints.

“Some of the backpacks I tried didn’t have straps that held up — one of [my son’s] just ripped right off after a few months — while others are so over-engineered that they’re heavy before you even add a single thing,” says editorial director Simone Scully. “This backpack is light and durable. The straps are adjustable, too, and they’re padded so they don’t hurt. Best of all, they come in fun patterns. My son chose the Pixar Mashup one, but it was a long decision process because he liked several of the patterns.”

The kids who love to match will appreciate this set. It comes with a backpack, an insulated lunchbox (choose between standard and dual-compartment), a pencil case, and a stainless steel water bottle, all in the same sweet, quilted pattern. Each piece in the set can be personalized with a name or monogram for an additional $15. That means it has a better chance of being returned to you when something inevitably ends up in the lost and found.

A bento box–style lunchbox is perfect for keeping lunch organized and temperature-controlled, whether you’re sending hot or cold food. “It’s easy to use, can be carried on its own as a lunchbox or fit into a larger lunchbox (which is what my daughter likes to do), and it keeps food hot [or] cold for hours,” says editor Ashley Ziegler.

This bento box has three separate compartments, which is great for kids who don’t like their food to touch. It also comes with an insulated bowl, a game-changer for keeping soup or pasta warm. Just note that this is not dishwasher-safe.

If you’re packing a small meal or maybe just a few snacks to round out a school-bought lunch, using a snack box makes a lot of sense.

This box has two compartments, each sealed separately with a silicone lid, so dry and messier snacks (like yogurt or applesauce) can sit side by side without turning into a soggy mess. It can simultaneously handle whole fruit, dips, and crunchy snacks without leaking or crumbling. It’s dishwasher-safe, too, which is a big time-saver when it’s getting used daily.

“The snack box is the perfect size for a clementine and another snack, like Goldfish [crackers],” says Scully. “Sometimes we put two types of fruit. The little, flexible circle part helps fit the clementine, but my son does sometimes pop it out when returning the snack box from school.”

Gone are the days of freezing (and then remembering to pack) a separate set of ice packs. This lunchbox has freezable gel built right into its walls, so you freeze the bag itself and it keeps lunch cold all day long. The bag folds flat for freezing or storage, and it fits into even the most cramped freezer.

The buckle handle lets you clip it onto a backpack, messenger bag, or sports bag. There’s also a small zip compartment for storing snack money, utensils, or other essentials. It comes with a large, zip opening for easy packing and is available in several kid-friendly colors and patterns.

One added perk: Your little one may eat more if their food actually stays cold and appetizing. As Scully says: “My son’s lunchboxes stay colder longer. He tends to finish more of his lunch with fruit that doesn’t end up warm and squished or string cheese that goes nicely in his snack packs.”

A lunch that actually gets eaten is good for your kid and also for your berry budget; no more $4 strawberries coming home, smooshed in a sweaty baggie.

Pack a little joy in their lunch with these fun and delicious fruit snacks. They’re made with organic pear-juice concentrate. They’re also non-GMO and USDA Organic, and they contain no artificial flavors, synthetic colors, or high-fructose corn syrup. Plus, they have a good amount of vitamin C.

This variety pack comes with both summer strawberry and berry patch flavors. The fruit snacks are shaped like cute little bunnies that are (almost) too cute to eat. They’re packed into 22 individually wrapped pouches.

Who doesn’t love chips with a sandwich? These tasty chips are gluten-free and made in a facility free from eggs, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, sesame, mustard, and celery. That’s reassuring if you’re packing for a kid with allergies or other classroom restrictions. The individual canisters hold shape even when thrown in the bottom of a backpack, so these won’t be crumbs by lunch.

This one’s for the parents who want to avoid their kid’s afternoon sugar crash. This juice is organic, gluten-free, and vegan, with no artificial flavors or colors. And it has just 1 gram (g) of fruit sugar. Just be aware that it’s sweetened with stevia.

These cereal pouches are a huge hit with my 3-year-old, and I feel good about him having them. They’re made with real cocoa and are lightly sweetened with dates and coconut sugar.

This snack is made with minimal ingredients (all of which I can pronounce). Plus, it still satisfies a sweet tooth, with less than 5 g of sugar per bag. It also has 3 g of plant protein per serving, so it doesn’t feel like an empty-calorie treat. It’s also nut-free, so it’s safe to send to school. And the single-serve, individually sealed pouches make it easy to throw in a lunchbox or backpack side pocket for a quick boost at school.

This water bottle has a special status in our household, because it's the first thing my son ever bought with his own money. I get why kids love it, so I’d consider it a must-have for preschoolers.

It has an easy-flip lid and a straw that's leak-proof when closed and spill-proof when open, even if it's dropped on the playground. The 14 fluid ounce (fl oz) size is plenty of water for an outing but still small enough for kids to hold easily.

We reach for this bottle on the days when my son will be carrying his own backpack, because it’s so much lighter than his stainless-steel water bottle. It’s made of 50-percent recycled plastic and is dishwasher-safe, but the real standout feature among kids is the fun patterns available. (After much deliberation and sending an employee to the REI backroom, we decided on sharks, if you’re curious.)

This 18 fl oz, spill-proof, leak-proof bottle is double wall–insulated, which means it keeps water truly cold all day. (Scully added ice to her son’s water bottle and found there was still ice in it that hadn’t melted by the end of the day.)

Parents will appreciate a few key details about this water bottle: It’s dishwasher-safe and easy to clean, it comes with an extra straw, and it fits in a cup holder. Kids will love the fun prints, including beloved Disney characters and patterns to match a Simple Modern backpack.

Send them back to school in style in these classically cool Adidas Campus 00s sneakers. (You may remember them from your own school days.) They’re lightweight and comfortable enough for everyday wear.

Depending on the size, some styles come with elastic, slip-on laces for kids who aren’t ready to tie their own shoes yet. Larger sizes have regular laces. Best of all for budding sneaker-heads, this style features that classic (yet somewhat understated) Adidas Trefoil logo on the tongue.

One very cool tween girl in my life has informed me that New Balance 9060 is the shoe for back-to-school time, at least at her school. These are both futuristic and reminiscent of Y2K style. Beyond the cool aesthetic, they’re extremely comfortable for all-day wear. They come in plenty of colors, too, from that classic New Balance gray to more funky mustard yellow or cobalt blue with lime green accents.

Rainy days are going to happen, whether you’ve got a school drop-off, a playground date, or just a wet walk to the bus. The fine line between a good time and a meltdown over wet socks is having a good pair of rain boots. Ten Little rain boots are made with slip-resistant rubber, a cozy lining, and sturdy traction, so kids can splash around on wet, slippery surfaces without losing their footing.

While they may be on the pricey side for fast-growing little ones, these rain boots stand apart from others thanks to their fit. Ten Little designed them with a wide, foot-shaped toe box and a flat, flexible, zero-drop sole. That helps kids’ toes splay naturally and supports proper gait and posture as they grow.

If you’re looking to do some back-to-school shopping for a teen or tween, you can’t go wrong with a Nike hoodie. This one is made from mid-weight brushed fleece that’s soft on the inside and smooth on the outside, perfect for chilly fall mornings. It has a drawstring hood and a loose, relaxed fit that falls right into the baggy trend that the kids are all about. It comes in classic colors, like black or gray, or brighter options, like cobalt or pink. So there’s something for the kid who wants to blend in or stand out.

If your kid struggles to say goodbye in the morning, having this bracelet set can help them feel safe and at ease when you’re not physically by their side. The matching bracelet set pairs a "Love You" bracelet for you with a "Love You More" bracelet for your kid, so they're carrying a small reminder of you with them all day.

The bracelets are handcrafted with colorful beads and brass hardware on an elastic band, so they're comfortable for small wrists and easy to put on. And while it may seem like a small thing, “for children with separation anxiety specifically, creating a school-appropriate item that they can bring with them to school — such as a bracelet you wear and that your child wears during the day — can remind them that even when you're physically separated, you are still connected,” Adusei says.

The kid who loves to be prepared will appreciate having a first aid kit in their backpack. Everyone else will appreciate that this kit includes the essentials, but nothing sharp or dangerous. Inside, you’ll find adhesive bandages, hand sanitizer, and antibiotic ointment. They’re all packed in a cutesy, woodland-creature zippered pouch that clips to a backpack for easy access in the event of minor cuts and scrapes.

For the kid who gets nervous at drop-off (or the parent who does), this little felt star is a small way to send some comfort and love along for the day. It’s hand-stitched and comes in a wide range of colors your kid will have fun choosing from.

At just 7 to 8 centimeters (cm) across, it’s easy to tuck into a backpack pocket, a coat sleeve, or right in their hand on a tough morning. They can give it a squeeze if they need some comfort during the day.

A pencil case that doubles as a lovey? Sign us up. It’s perfect for kids who may be embarrassed by bringing a stuffy to school (or aren’t allowed to) but could use a little something to squeeze throughout the day.

From the beloved plush brand Jellycat, the Sun Pouch is modeled after the brand’s Amuseables Sun character. It’s made with soft, yellow cotton and polyester that’s meant to feel like fur. It also has (the most adorable) tiny boots. Unzip it, and there's a bright, blue print lining inside that’s a fun surprise every time your kid reaches for a pencil.

Just note that machine-washing this isn’t recommended. You’ll have to hand-wash it or live with some ink stains. (Hey, they show it’s well-loved.)

This one is for the kid who’s ready (or needs to be ready) to take ownership of their homework and schedule. This colorful planner is designed to help kids in grades three through five start to manage homework, assignments, and daily routines on their own. Beyond the weekly planning pages, it includes spelling lists, reading trackers, reference pages, a place for personal-contact information, a 10-in ruler, and fun facts on every page. Carrying this thing around will make kids feel very organized and adult.