Gift guides
Back to School and College Essentials
From the editors
Whether you're prepping for the first day of kindergarten or packing the car for college move-in, back-to-school season is a lot. Here's our favorite gear for every stage: lunch boxes and backpacks, dorm essentials, care package ideas, and the little things that make a new school year feel exciting instead of overwhelming.
Newest first
11 guidesThe guides
Newest guide · August 11, 2026Our pro-mom back-to-school tip each year: Mabel's Labels
Gift guide · July 30, 2026The best back-to-school tech for teens
Gift guide · July 29, 2026Walmart has back-to-school shopping covered
Gift guide · July 27, 2026Make back-to-school clothes shopping easy with Primary
Gift guide · July 23, 2026Our favorite lunchboxes for Back to School 2026
Gift guide · July 20, 2026The most beautiful way to get organized: Paper Source
Gift guide · July 19, 2026Why Target is our favorite back-to-school shopping destination
Gift guide · July 9, 202611 dorm room essentials your college student needs
Gift guide · May 20, 202616 fantastic gifts for college grads
Gift guide · August 17, 2025Back to school tips for moms: a smart reset guide
Gift guide · July 29, 2025Smart back-to-school picks for families on a budget
Every pick in one place
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This guide contains affiliate links, which means we receive a small commission from some purchases to help support our team. All picks are determined editorially by our staff; there has been no compensation in exchange for our picks.
Type
Ashley M Black Kitty Backpack
From: The coolest backpacks for preschoolers and little kids | Cool Mom Picks Back to School Guide 2016Kawaii Moustache Mini Preschool Backpack
From: The coolest backpacks for preschoolers and little kids | Cool Mom Picks Back to School Guide 2016Skip*Hop Zoo Collection Bunny Preschool Backpack
From: The coolest backpacks for preschoolers and little kids | Cool Mom Picks Back to School Guide 2016Obersee 03 Preschool Backpack with Built-in Lunch Cooler
From: The coolest backpacks for preschoolers and little kids | Cool Mom Picks Back to School Guide 2016Loungefly Chibi Star Wars Backpack
From: The coolest backpacks for preschoolers and little kids | Cool Mom Picks Back to School Guide 2016Madpax Quack Spiketus Rex Half-Pack
From: The coolest backpacks for preschoolers and little kids | Cool Mom Picks Back to School Guide 2016Max the Monster Backpack
From: The coolest backpacks for preschoolers and little kids | Cool Mom Picks Back to School Guide 2016Koala Backpack supporting the WWF
From: The coolest backpacks for preschoolers and little kids | Cool Mom Picks Back to School Guide 2016Hello Kitty Pebble Backpack
From: The coolest backpacks for preschoolers and little kids | Cool Mom Picks Back to School Guide 2016Miss Kitty Preschool Backpack
From: The coolest backpacks for preschoolers and little kids | Cool Mom Picks Back to School Guide 2016Personalized Rainbow Balloons Backpack
From: The coolest backpacks for preschoolers and little kids | Cool Mom Picks Back to School Guide 2016Save The Arctic Fox Mini Kanken Backpack
From: The coolest backpacks for preschoolers and little kids | Cool Mom Picks Back to School Guide 2016Pokémon backpack
From: The coolest backpacks for preschoolers and little kids | Cool Mom Picks Back to School Guide 2016Apple Park
From: 5 of the cutest backpacks and lunch boxes to give you a head start on back to schoolThursday, September 10, 9pm ET sharp
From: Join us for a Twitter Social to help you get into the back to school groovegiveaway happening right now
From: Join us for a Twitter Social to help you get into the back to school grooveThinkitUp.org
From: Join us for a Twitter Social to help you get into the back to school grooveLEGO Future Backpack Ninjago
From: 10 cool backpacks and bags for LEGO lovers heading back to schoolLEGO cinch buckets
From: 10 cool backpacks and bags for LEGO lovers heading back to schoolLEGO skeleton backpack and lunch bag set
From: 10 cool backpacks and bags for LEGO lovers heading back to schoolLEGO vintage spaceman backpack
From: 10 cool backpacks and bags for LEGO lovers heading back to schoolLEGO Pink Brick Backpack
From: 10 cool backpacks and bags for LEGO lovers heading back to schoolLEGO Minifig 3D FX Lunch boxes
From: 10 cool backpacks and bags for LEGO lovers heading back to schoolPersonalized Van Gogh style LEGO art print backpack
From: 10 cool backpacks and bags for LEGO lovers heading back to school
From the archive
Earlier guides
30 cool lunch box accessories to make school lunch more fun. Lots on sale too! | Back to School Shopping15 of the coolest backpacks for preschool and kindergarten | Back to School Shopping GuideLunch bags and totes for teens who have outgrown lunch boxes | Back to School ShoppingFresh Olympic-inspired neon sneakers (with lots on sale) | Back to School Shopping14 college dorm room essentials you might not have considered: Part II | Back to School Shopping14 college dorm room essentials you might not have considered: Part I | Back to School ShoppingThe coolest free school printables: Lunch notes, planners, labels, chore charts and more | Back to School Guide7 creative time-saving hacks to save your back-to-school routine. | Back to School Guide20 cool backpacks for teens this year | Back to School Guide21 great gift ideas for college students | Holiday Gifts 2022Cool plus-size clothes for teens: 8 of our favorite destinations | Back to School Guide 2022Sponsored12 smart personalized label ideas to help you save money, cut down on fights, and bring home fewer germs | Back to School Guide12 must-have electronics and small appliances for dorm rooms | Back to School Shopping Guide7 outstanding high school or college graduation gift books: On stepping into the arena, dreaming with eyes wide open, and professional troublemaking (in the best possible way)Back-to-school trend alert! 7 tie-dye sneakers we love for kids.7 great Kindergarten printables for an awesome first year at school, most of them free | Back to School Guide 2019SponsoredThe best 2019-20 school year planners for every type of parent | Back to School Guide 2019Sponsored27 very cool backpacks for grade school this year | Back to School Guide 2019Sponsored11 favorite school supply organization hacks and tips | Back to School Guide 20199 cool personalized school supplies to help make the school year a little more fun | Back to School 20189 clever, cool kids' tees for book lovers | Back to School Guide 2018Beyond loveys: 11 sweet comfort items to send kids to school with fewer worries | Back to School Guide 201811 incredibly creative ideas for first day of school photos | Back to School Guide 2018The coolest back to school supplies and fun accessories under $10 to make September more fun | Back to School 2018