Back to School and College Essentials
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.
The 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
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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.
Kids' Temporary Tattoo Pack
Temporary tattoos with kid-friendly designs that provide a visible reminder of parental support during the school day.
From: Creative ideas to help young children with school anxiety: 7 small items that can make a big difference.
Parent-and-Child Matching Wish Bracelet Set (Etsy)
Gender-neutral parent/child matching wish bracelet set with charms and color options to help children feel connected on the first day of school.
From: Creative ideas to help young children with school anxiety: 7 small items that can make a big difference.
Herschel Supply Backpack
Durable, stylish backpack—practical gift for students, commuters, or travelers heading into the school year.
From: The best of the 4th of July week sales: Huge savings on beauty and style, travel and tech, home and decor
Mabel’s Labels Personalized Kids Labels
Durable, customizable name labels for clothing, lunchboxes, and school gear—useful for keeping kids’ items organized and easy to identify.
From the guide
Wall-Mounted Fold-Up Laptop Desk
A compact, wall-mounted folding desk ideal for very small rooms—works well as a laptop station and quick study surface.
From: Setting up a study space at home: Tips to make it one your kid will actually use
MacBook Neo (Budget Laptop option)
An affordable laptop option under $600 gives a graduate reliable computing power for classes and projects.
From: Our ultimate high school graduation gift guide
2023 MacBook Pro (M3 Pro, 16.2", 18GB RAM, 512GB SSD)
Powerful laptop with Liquid Retina XDR display and M3 Pro — premium gift for creators and professionals.
From: The Best Prime Day Deals: Top-Rated Items You May Actually Want, Plus Exclusive Promo Codes
HP x360 Convertible Touchscreen Chromebook
A versatile 2-in-1 Chromebook with a touchscreen and convertible hinge — good for students, remote workers, or casual media use.
From: All the best 2018 Cyber Monday deals and discount codes, in one place!
Kaya Faux Leather Laptop Backpack (Calpak)
Stylish faux-leather laptop backpack with compartments for tech and daily essentials.
From: 16 great high school graduation gift ideas that grads actually want. Besides cash.
Emily & Meritt X-Frame Metallic Desk
A sleek metallic x-frame desk that adds glamour and function to a teen or home office workspace.
From: Fun metallic desk supplies to help glitz up your work space
West Elm Teen-Appropriate Desk (ladder-style/leaning)
A space-saving ladder-style leaning desk that fits small rooms and shared spaces—good for teens who need a compact study spot.
From: Setting up a study space at home: Tips to make it one your kid will actually use
Pottery Barn Kids Grow-With-Me Computer Desk (optional hutch)
A grow-with-me computer desk available with or without a hutch, suitable for kids who need a durable, adaptable study surface.
From: Setting up a study space at home: Tips to make it one your kid will actually use
Personalized Baseball (Custom Desk Ball)
Custom-printed baseball that serves as a fun desk object or keepsake rather than for play.
From: 30 Gifts to Wow Dad for Less Than $20 | Father's Day Gift Guide
Chisel iPhone & iPad Dock
Minimal wooden docks for iPhone and iPad that prop devices upright and reduce desktop mess while charging.
From: The prettiest, most helpful products to spring clean your desk for tax time.
Custom photo desk calendar (Minted-style)
A personalized photo calendar to keep her organized and showcase family photos on her desk all year.
From: 15 perfect home office gifts for moms working from home -- probably more than she should | Mother's Day Gifts
Catch-all wireless charging station
A stylish desk tray that doubles as a wireless charger and catch-all for keys, phone, and small essentials.
From: 15 perfect home office gifts for moms working from home -- probably more than she should | Mother's Day Gifts
Rifle Paper Co. pencils (set)
Pretty, patterned pencils (often sold with a matching holder) that add charm to a mom's pencil cup or desk.
From: 15 perfect home office gifts for moms working from home -- probably more than she should | Mother's Day Gifts
Waterproof faux leather desk mat
A colorful, waterproof desk mat that protects the desk surface and adds a polished look to her workspace.
From: 15 perfect home office gifts for moms working from home -- probably more than she should | Mother's Day Gifts
Nevertheless She Persisted Mini Desk Trophy
A small desk trophy engraved 'Nevertheless She Persisted' — an empowering decorative gift, with a portion supporting charity.
From: 32 cool (really!) Mother's Day Gifts, all $15 and under | Mother's Day Gift Guide 2018
Printable Dodecahedron Papercraft Desk Calendar (Pitsy Digital)
A printable papercraft dodecahedron desk calendar — fun, interactive desktop decor and a conversation-starting gift.
From: These gorgeous printable 2024 calendars will modernize your wall in secondsBluelounge Cable Box
A sleek cable-management box that hides power strips and tidies cord clutter—useful for keeping a desk neat during tax season.
From: The prettiest, most helpful products to spring clean your desk for tax time.Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise-Cancelling Headphones
Top-tier wireless headphones with industry-leading noise cancellation and strong sound quality — great for studying, commuting, or relaxing in a dorm.
From the guide
Pretzel Mummies Kit/Idea
Simple sweet-and-salty pretzel mummies made with pretzels, chocolate and edible eyes—easy to assemble for a class party.
From the guide
Kale Chip Snack Kit
A kale chip recipe and seasoning pack is a crunchy, healthier snack gift that's kid-friendly when seasoned to taste.
From the guide