Back-To-School List You ACTUALLY Need

The case for shopping like Scandi parents: choose "less it more", "functionality first", and items that promote independence and ease.

Action shot: using the High Visibility Vest & Skate Backpack & Rain Pants:-)

Hi Friends! I have seen a million and one back-to-school shopping lists, but I’m not buying anything off of those. Why? Because, frankly, the return for your investment is really low: anything I purchase, needs to do more than just one thing, and help my kids develop independence, and add ease to my parenting.

Here’s what I’m shopping for my soon-to-be third and fourth graders:

1. Skateboard Backpack.

   This is a must and I’d never buy a regular backpack again.

   Skateboard backpacks have strong straps in the back that could hold a skateboard—you are not buying it for that however; you are buying it so the strap can hold your kids’ outdoor clothes like a jacket (and outdoor pants) when they get too hot going to/from school or during field trips, or during any kind of outing. If kids have to carry their stuff, they end up putting it down somewhere, and the stuff typically gets lost!

   The skate backpack is also great if you drive your kids to school, and they don’t need to get dressed for cold weather when leaving: strap the outdoor clothes into the backpack and everything is in one place! Click here for this Danish one, that I have now bought twice for both boys. Here’s another option, on Amazon, with neutral colors.

   

2. Backpack rain cover.

   For rainy days, when your kids is walking or biking to/from school or for any kind of outing. Remember, there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing and accessories:-) Click here for this one with reflectors.

   

3. High Visibility Vest.

   This is critical if your kid is starting to walk or bike to school—or anywhere—by himself, or even if you are just practicing it with your kid.

   (If school is too far to walk or bike to, or you still walk your kids, get this anyway, and help them practice being a pedestrian safely anywhere you can by having them walk ahead of you—it’s an important life skill!).

   I got High Visibility Vests for my kids in Finland, but they are even more important in the US or anywhere car-centric, where the traffic is not focused on pedestrians, or where there are no proper sidewalks or street crossings with lights. Here’s the one we ordered.

   

4. Stylish, simple, easy microwave-safe and dishwasher-safe lunchbox

   This type of lunchbox was shockingly hard to find! But, of course, I finally found one, that is not Scandinavian-made, but looks like it is! I have three different colors for my three boys.

   

5. Rain pants.

   I wrote about this before on this post, but the fact is that kids’ don’t mind the rain as long as they are warm, dry and comfortable! You need these to go to and from school in the rain, and to stay dry during rainy recess. Some US schools won’t allow kids to go outside for recess when it’s rainy, but if yours does—this is a must.

   If rainy recess is banned, rain pants are even more critical: your child has been stuck inside all day and definitely needs to go outside after school—in proper rain clothes, kids often like to play outside for hours! I love the ones with the bib for kids 8 and under; here are all the best options from the best kids’ outdoor brand, Reima. They are the best, and affordable options for kids’ outdoor gear in the world; I too wore them as a kid.

   

6. Independent, fun evening routine.

   The school days in the US are looooong (9am-4pm), with most kids having activities and sports and lots of homework till late in the evening. You don’t want to spend any time battling to get your kids to clean themselves up. You want to spend that time bonding instead.

   I mentioned this before too, but for this exact reason I created a small batch of natural Kids’ Face Cleanser & Moisturizing Balm, in a paint-brush tube, so that cleansing the face from sweat, sunscreen, dirt, and—for preteens and teens—excess oil and impurities—is easy and fun (apply and wipe off with wet wash cloth). And, because the same balm works as a moisturizer too, you can also apply it and leave it on to soothe dry or irritated skin. It’s on Amazon here, and on Etsy here.

   

   That’s all you need, besides a few pencils and pencil case! Tap the heart-shaped button if one—or all!—of these were helpful and let me know what you would add or grab from this list below:

   xx Annabella

   PS. Share this with your parent friends, especially if they have kids who are starting to go to school on their own, and if they are overwhelmed by back-to-school prep!