• About
  • Shop
  • Work with Me
    • Guest Post on Views!
    • Policies and Disclosure
    • Sponsored Work
  • Tri-State Family Fun
  • The Mommy View
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

Views From a Step Stool

Open Minds & Messy Hands

  • Home
  • Learn Through Play
    • Fine Motor Activities
    • Arts & Crafts
      • Toddler Arts & Crafts
      • Preschool Arts& Crafts
    • Sensory
      • Ultimate Collection of Sensory Bins for Kids
      • Toddler Sensory Play
      • Preschool/Early Elementary Sensory Play
      • Mess-Free Sensory Play
    • STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math)
      • Indoor and Outdoor STEM Challenges for Kids
    • Babies
      • 60+ Awesome Activities for 1 Year Olds! {Tested and Loved}
    • Toddlers
      • Activities for 2 Year Olds
    • Preschoolers
      • Activities for 3 Year Olds
      • 65+ Fun Activities for 4 Year Olds
    • Elementary
      • 55+ Activities for 5 Year Olds
    • Want to Teach Your Kids Through Play?
  • Holidays
    • Valentine’s Day Activities for Kids
      • Valentine’s Day Printables for Kids
      • Free Printable Valentines Cards
    • St. Patrick’s Day Activities for Kids
    • Easter Activities for Kids
    • Memorial Day/4th of July
    • Halloween Activities for Kids
      • Monster Activities for Kids
      • Pumpkin Activities for Kids: Crafts, Science and Sensory Play
    • Thanksgiving Crafts,Sensory Play and Printables for Toddlers and Up
      • Pumpkin Activities for Kids: Crafts, Science and Sensory Play
    • Christmas
      • 30+ Christmas Activities for 1 and 2 Year Olds
      • Christmas Printables for Kids
      • Ornament Crafts for Kids
    • New Years
  • Seasons
    • Spring Activities for Kids
      • March Activities for Kids
      • St. Patrick’s Day Activities for Kids
      • Easter Activities for Kids
    • Summer Activities for Kids
      • 4th of July Activities for Kids
    • Tons of Fall Kids Activities for All Ages
      • Fall Printables for Kids
      • Apple Themed Kids Activities
      • Apple Crafts for Kids
      • Pumpkin Activities for Kids: Crafts, Science and Sensory Play
    • Winter
      • January Activities for Toddlers
      • February Activities for Toddlers
      • Valentine’s Day Activities for Kids
  • Sensory Bins
  • Printables
    • Seasonal Printables for Kids
      • Spring Printables for Kids
      • Summer Printables for Kids
      • Fall Printables for Kids
      • Winter Printables for Kids
    • Holiday Printables for Kids
      • Valentine’s Day Printables for Kids
        • Free Printable Valentines Cards
      • St. Patrick’s Day Printables for Kids
      • Easter Printables for Kids
      • 4th of July Printables for Kids
      • Free Halloween Printables for Kids: Games and More
      • Thanksgiving Printables for Kids
      • Christmas Printables for Kids
    • Free Printable Board Games for Kids
      • Printable Camping Games for Kids
    • Printable Bookmarks for Kids
    • Free Printable Playdough Mats for Kids
    • Book Lists
    • Printable Lego Challenges for Kids
  • Exclusive Content for Subscribers
The Ultimate Back-to-School Shopping ‘Must-Haves’

The Ultimate Back-to-School Shopping ‘Must-Haves’

July 30, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

Sharing is caring!

107shares
  • Facebook10
  • Twitter
  • Google+
  • Pinterest97

Did summer fly by where you are? Have you started back to school shopping yet? With a rising Kindergartener, we are in full back to school mode. We made our sensory bin, are acting out school scenes during our play, and of course…..are shopping. I mean I’m using this as an excuse to get back to school drop off line athletic wear for myself 😉 Those mornings are going to be rough…the best I can do is make sure I’m not in my pjs and that I have a dose of deodorant on…just sayin’…

Back to school shopping can be TOUGH! We have some of the best new (non-character) and trendy items on our 'must-have' list this year. Check them out!

DepositPhotos: Two brothers waving back at their mother on their first day at school.

I recently had the opportunity to talk to some really awesome brands, and see some of the best new products for kids and families at Blogger Bash, an awesome blog conference in NYC with some pretty major swag and samples. So, not only did I see and touch a lot of these products on this list, my kids I’ve actually been using them myself, and they have definitely made the school shopping cut.

Back to school shopping can be TOUGH! We have some of the best new (non-character) and trendy items on our 'must-have' list this year. Check them out!

So here you go! Your ULTIMATE Back-to-School Shopping ‘Must Haves’!!

Backpacks:

Back to school shopping can be TOUGH! We have some of the best new (non-character) and trendy items on our 'must-have' list this year. Check them out!

These Bixbee Animal Packs are SUPER adorable, from sharks to butterflies, your little one will be able to strut their style on the first say of school.

For your older kids, the Speck Kargo Backpack is functional and trendy.

Lunch:

Back to school shopping can be TOUGH! We have some of the best new (non-character) and trendy items on our 'must-have' list this year. Check them out!

One of the most important times of the day at school is lunch! Everyone wants a cute lunchbox, and the schools want reusable items to cut down on waste. Add these to your list, you WON’T be disappointed.

The Bentology Lunch Bag and Box Set comes in really cute prints and with the bento box inside. Kids will love eating out of these.

The Precidio Snack in the Box  and Drink in the Box  are the perfect re-usable juice box and snack containers!

The Sistema Lunch Collection will keep all of your goodies organized and your portions perfect.

Don’t forget to hydrate! The CamelBak Kids Water Bottle has SO many prints to choose from, your kiddo will be more than satisfied with their selection.

Gear:

Back to school shopping can be TOUGH! We have some of the best new (non-character) and trendy items on our 'must-have' list this year. Check them out!

The Crayola  Back To School Pack Grades K-2 or for Grades 3-5 give you all of your essentials in a bundle…who doesn’t love that!?

Duck Tape Dry Erase Tape and  Chalkboard Tape will help keep everything organized and labeled. We all love a little bit of personalization!

Have kids taking their technology to school? Kanex will keep the battery charged with the GoPower Portable Battery for MacBook, iPhone, Android & more so that you always have enough juice to make it through the day.

If it’s the iPad they are taking to school, or riding the bus with, you want that baby protected. Luckily, Speck‘s iGuy Freestanding Case will not only keep it well-protected, it will be oh so cute at the same time.

Keep your littles learning while at home with the Leap Frog  LeapStart Interactive Learning System

Want to take notes and keep your notepad fully customizable, including the order of the pages? Check out the Tul Note-taking System from Office Depot, this is a must for students AND busy moms!

Health & Well-Being:

Back to school shopping can be TOUGH! We have some of the best new (non-character) and trendy items on our 'must-have' list this year. Check them out!

We all know how germy those first couple of months can be…stay protected in a natural and gentle way with these products.

The Homedics line of Ellia Essential Oils.

From Oilogic, the Stuffy Nose & Cough Essential Oil  and Relax & Calm Essential Oil for toddlers and kids.

And from Boiron, the Oscillococcinum for Flu-like Symptoms  and Boiron Calendula Cream for cuts and scrapes.

Food:

Back to school shopping can be TOUGH! We have some of the best new (non-character) and trendy items on our 'must-have' list this year. Check them out!

You kiddos will be happy to have any of these fun treats packed in their lunchbox! And of course…coffee for you for the ride to school or the walk to the bus 😉

California Ripe Olives Olives To Go

Bumblebee  Snack on the Run Tuna Salad with Crackers

Eight O’ Clock Coffee  Keurig K-Cups

Entenmann’s Little Bites

Books:

Back to school shopping can be TOUGH! We have some of the best new (non-character) and trendy items on our 'must-have' list this year. Check them out!

Splat the Cat: Back to School, Splat!
This School Year Will Be the BEST!
First Day Jitters
Back-to-School Rules
The Exceptionally, Extraordinarily Ordinary First Day of School
The Night Before Kindergarten
Amelia Bedelia Goes Back to School
The Berenstain Bears Go to School

Back to school shopping can be TOUGH! We have some of the best new (non-character) and trendy items on our 'must-have' list this year. Check them out!

Have a wonderful school year! And happy school shopping!!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. I will receive a small portion of what you purchase, thanks for supporting this blog <3.

Sharing is caring!

107shares
  • Facebook10
  • Twitter
  • Google+
  • Pinterest97

Filed Under: Sponsored Work, Uncategorized Tagged With: fun, kids, moms, online, school, shop, shopping

Spin Art Wall Art for Kids
Pocket Fidgets for Kids Who Can’t Sit Still

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Welcome to Views From a Step Stool!

Welcome to Views From a Step Stool!

I am a mom to three little ones and love to create and explore every day with them! We have open minds and messy hands, come join in our adventures!

Search the Site

What’s New

  • 12 Snowman Crafts for Kids
  • 10 Elf on the Shelf Printables to Download
  • 12 Elf on the Shelf Ideas
  • Candy Corn Sensory Bin
  • Emotions Sensory Bag
  • 10 Thanksgiving Handprint Crafts

What’s New:

  • 12 Snowman Crafts for Kids
  • 10 Elf on the Shelf Printables to Download
  • 12 Elf on the Shelf Ideas
  • Candy Corn Sensory Bin
  • Emotions Sensory Bag
  • 10 Thanksgiving Handprint Crafts
  • Build a Jack-o-Lantern Sensory Craft
  • Breakfast Smoothies for Kids with BlendJet Portable Blender
  • 12 Outdoor Painting Ideas for Kids
  • Educational Sensory Bin Ideas
  • 12 Animal Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids
  • 10 Insect Themed Sensory Bins
  • 12 Bee Crafts for Kids
  • 15 Easter Chick Crafts for Kids
  • 15+ Earth Day Crafts for Kids
  • St. Patrick’s Day Emotion Cut and Paste Printable Activity
  • Valentine’s Day Charades Words
  • Printable Color by Number Valentine’s Day Cards for Kids
  • Valentine’s Day Kindness Countdown Calendar: Free Printable
  • Valentine’s Day Pixel Art Color by Number: Free Printables

Copyright © 2025 · Hello Sweets by Hello You Designs

Copyright © 2025 · Hello Sweets Theme On Genesis Framework