It’s that time of year again, time to go Back to School. With kids having so much time at home this year it all seems a little strange. So I’ve put together some top Back to School tips as well as some essential items so your kids have everything they need when they return to school.

With a little preparation and planning we can help our kids go back to school feeling happy and confident for the academic year ahead.

Disclaimer: I was sent PR Samples for the purpose of reviewing essential Back to School items in this guide. Some links are Affiliate and marked with *.

Get organised the night before

I know this is easier said then done when you’re tired from a busy day at work but there’s nothing worse than the panic of trying to find a matching pair of socks or find something tasty to put in the lunch box all whilst you have a little human dragging at your feet, protesting about brushing their teeth or putting their school shorts on the wrong way round.

Now picture this. You wake up in the morning, everything is ready to go and you even have time to have a quick cup of tea. The water bottle is filled, the school bag is ready, the lunch box has actual sandwiches in it and the uniform is laid out ready to be worn, matching socks and everything.

It’s worth taking half an hour the night before so you can start your day the right way and the school run isn’t so stressful. It will help your kids feel more calm and prepared for their ahead day too.

Top Tips: Days of the week drawer

Many clever parents have been creating a days of the week drawer. Have at least five drawers for Monday to Friday (maybe one for the weekend too). Add school uniform and everything your kid needs for each particular day in the relevant drawer.

Top Tips: Keep on top of appointments and events

Having a physical diary where you can enter appointments and events to keep you organised can be a real blessing. Never forget a birthday party, school trip or any other special event.

I love the Dairy Diary, which I was kindly gifted to review. The 2021 edition has handy stickers at the front where you can mark birthdays, hairdresser appointments, weddings, MOTs and much more. There are also delicious and often seasonal recipes each week. My particular favourites include a Blackberry Mint Mojito and the Mince Pie Linzer Torte. At just £8.85 it is excellent value and worth adding to your Christmas wish list.

Support your kids worries and anxieties

If your child is feeling anxious or nervous this is only natural. Support and acknowledge anxiety and reassure them that it’s ok to feel that way and lots of other kids will be feeling the same too.

What you can do to help:

• Let them know it’s ok to feel nervous.
• If you can, arrange play dates before returning to school, even if it’s just a quick catch up in the park.
• Visit the school so it feels familiar again, whether it’s a bike ride past the school or a family walk. Stop look and chat about school and any new measures in place for social distancing so your child feels prepared.

Give your kids space

Your kids are going to be pretty exhausted after school so give them some space and time to be calm and relax. Listen to them if they want to talk but if they don’t want to talk about their day, that’s fine too.

Once they’ve had a chance to relax (and have a snack!) then feel free to ask them questions like what was the funniest thing that happened today or what did they read in class.

Top Tip: Have a chill out area for your kids with inspirational prints.

They can be educational too like these vintage chart design prints from Ink & Drop who have a wide range of awesome prints. We were gifted these for my son’s room and they are perfect to add some magic to your child’s bedroom or playroom.

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Make sure your kids are fully equipped and Back to School ready!

Now what have you forgotten? Check out my essential item list below:

Water Bottles

Water bottles are a must. You want to make sure your kids is rehydrated throughout the day.

We love our Rocket water bottle from Smash which features a cool Astronaut design. It’s perfect for little ones to take to school with them and holds up to 450ml of water. Made from high quality Tritan material, like all Smash products the bottle is 100% BPA Free and certified food safe.

We also love our Rocket Lunch Bag and Water Bottle from SMASH. The insulated bottle compartment has a 500ml drink bottle, which is 100% BPA, lead and phthalate free.

The SMASH lunch bag is perfect for school lunch or school trips as it has full insulation with antibacterial lining and has been certified fully food safe.

Pencil Case

A great way to start a new school year is to get a new pencil case. My son loves his space explorer pencil case from eatsleepdoodle as he can colour in the stars, planets and spacecraft in our solar system. It also comes with a set of 10 colouring pens. You can wash it as often as you like and have fun recolouring.

Lunch Box

Personalisation is key this year with extra hygiene measures in place due to covid-19. Treat Republic have a range of fabulous lunch boxes where you can add your child’s name.

We love our pirate lunch box. It’s the perfect size with plenty of room for sandwiches and other treats. It’s also not too big meaning that it fits perfectly into a school bag.

Name Labels

There are so many name labels it can be so confusing! The good thing is they’re not too expensive so find what works for you. Below are a couple of types that you can get:

Iron On: These iron on labels from Etsy are £2.75 for 30 plus free delivery, perfect for clothes and school uniform. *

Water Bottle Labels: These name labels from Etsy are perfect for water bottles and a bargain at just 70p! *

Essential Oil

The scent of rosemary can aid short-term memory, while soothing lavender decreases cortisol levels. Londe Botanics has brought them together in their Stillness Pulse Point Oil.

It smells absolutely divine and is perfect to help clam kids starting their school year. From personal experience I can verify that it certainly helps busy stressed mums, that’s for sure!

School Socks

The Sock Shop have a range of school socks and tights. *

With colours available in black, white and grey, you can ensure that your kids look smart and stick to the dress code! All the items in the Sock Shop school socks range have been made to ensure kids feet stay comfortable, from registration to when the last bell rings.

If you have a child starting school for the first time don’t miss my blog post Top Tips for Starting School.

What’s your number one essential item? Let me know in the comments below.