Back to School Essentials for Elementary School Kids

Parents of elementary-age kids start their back-to-school shopping earlier than anyone else — and for good reason, since the good backpacks and lunch boxes sell out fast. Here's our round-up of the essentials that make the first day (and every day after) go a little smoother, from durable backpacks to lunch gear that actually gets eaten out of.

Backpacks

Everyday Print Backpack This lightweight Bentgo backpack has a padded back panel and adjustable straps that make it comfortable for even the littlest shoulders, plus water-resistant fabric that wipes clean after the inevitable spill 👉 Bentgo Kids Print Backpack

Corduroy Checkered Backpack We love this soft corduroy pick for kids who want something a little different than the usual cartoon prints — it's got a roomy main compartment, side mesh pockets, and sturdy YKK zippers built to survive a full school year 👉 STEAMEDBUN Corduroy Kids Backpack

Lunch Gear

Insulated Lunch Cooler This JanSport cooler bag keeps lunches cold for hours and folds flat when it's empty, so it's an easy one to toss in a backpack or grab on rushed mornings 👉 JanSport Lunch Break Cooler Bag

Bento-Style Lunch Box Leak-proof compartments and a built-in ice pack tray make this Omie bento box our go-to for keeping lunch organized without a drawer full of extra containers 👉 Omie OmieBox Bento Box

Bite-Valve Water Bottle This CamelBak bottle's straw only releases water when your kid bites down, which cuts way down on backpack spills — it's dishwasher safe too, which matters more than you'd think by week two 👉 CamelBak Eddy+ Kids Water Bottle

School Supplies

45-Piece School Supply Kit This kit checks off almost everything on a typical elementary supply list in one order — pencils, crayons, glue sticks, scissors, and more — so it's one less separate trip to make 👉 Trail maker School Supplies Kit

Zip-Around Pencil Case This ZIPIT pouch holds up to 30 pencils and pens with a wide-opening zipper that's easy for small hands, and the durable polyester holds up well to daily backpack tossing 👉 ZIPIT Cat Pencil Case

Pocket Folders (7-Pack) These heavy-duty folders come with a business card slot for labeling and two pockets per folder, which makes color-coding by subject easy for early readers 👉 Aegero Pocket Folders

Comfortable Everyday Basics

Elastic Lace Sneakers These adidas sneakers skip the tying altogether with an elastic lace system, so kids still working on that skill can get themselves ready independently 👉 adidas Kids' VL Court Sneaker

Waterproof Rain Jacket Lightweight and easy to fold into a backpack, this jacket is a good one to keep on hand for surprise rain during recess or the walk to the bus stop 👉 Slwosdlds Kids Rain Jacket

Home Organization for Homework Time

Wood Lap Desk with Storage This acacia wood lap desk gives kids a dedicated homework spot anywhere in the house, with built-in storage compartments to keep pencils and papers from disappearing into the couch 👉 LAPGEAR Schoolhouse Lap Desk

Magnetic Dry-Erase Chore Chart This clear acrylic board sticks right to the fridge with sliding buttons that make it a simple way to help kids track their own routines, without a parent having to remind them for the tenth time 👉 NiHome Acrylic Chore Chart

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Shopping for a middle schooler or high schooler instead? Check out our Back to School: Teens & College essentials round-up next.