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
Shop all picks
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.
DockATot Deluxe+ Docking Station (portable lounger/bassinet)
A cushioned, portable lounger that provides a cozy, secure spot for supervised lounging, tummy time, and easy transitions for newborns and toddlers — a stylish, practical gift for new parents.
From: Baby gear obsessed? The gorgeous fall DockATot designs are like works of art.
Cordless Blendi Pro+ Personal Blender (travel bottle convertible)
Cordless personal blender that converts to a travel bottle for on-the-go smoothies—useful for commuters, gym-goers, or travel lovers.
From: Breo Box Summer 2024 Subscription Unboxing: WHAT'S IN THE BOX? (Spoiler: It's great!)
Mini Camping Lantern Set with Charging Case (6-pack, solar/USB)
Portable stake-mounted mini lights that charge via solar or USB, last ~20 hours, and can clip to a carabiner—great for outdoor nights or backyard ambiance.
From: Breo Box Summer 2024 Subscription Unboxing: WHAT'S IN THE BOX? (Spoiler: It's great!)
Nintendo 2DS New Super Mario Bros. 2 Bundle
Portable handheld console bundled with New Super Mario Bros. 2 — a family-friendly gift for kids or nostalgic gamers who want pick-up-and-play platforming.
From: 11 things from our childhoods that should definitely stay there!
Cinemood Portable Theater Projector
A palm-sized portable projector that streams movies and shows for easy outdoor or bedroom movie nights.
From: 10 of the best holiday gifts on Amazon this year, most supporting small businesses
UNA Portable Grill
Compact, design-forward portable grill good for backyard or travel grilling.
From: 21 creative Father's Day gifts for the man who has everything, including great taste | Father's Day Gifts 2018
Up All Night Coffee Gift Set (Mouth x Cool Mom Picks)
Curated gift set with Brooklyn-roasted Sumatra, espresso cookies, and coffee caramel corn—designed for serious caffeine lovers.
From the guideGeneric Retailer Gift Card (Amazon/Target/Best Buy/Nintendo/PlayStation/Xbox)
Flexible gift card so a grad can choose the exact tech or gaming items they need for college life.
From the guide
Collegiate T‑Shirt (Fanatics)
A college-branded tee is an easy, practical gift that lets a grad show school pride on campus.
From: Our ultimate high school graduation gift guide
Collegiate Charms (James Avery)
A college charm from James Avery makes a classic, heirloom keepsake to commemorate graduation.
From: Our ultimate high school graduation gift guide
College Campus Map Art Print
Framed map art of a college campus makes a decorative, sentimental keepsake for a new student.
From: Our ultimate high school graduation gift guide
Birdie Personal Safety Alarm
A compact personal safety alarm provides an extra layer of security and peace of mind for students.
From: Our ultimate high school graduation gift guide
Custom Converse Sneakers
Custom Converse in school colors are a personalized, wearable way to celebrate college spirit.
From: Our ultimate high school graduation gift guide
Tide PODS Ultra OXI Laundry Detergent Pods (coupon-eligible)
Pre-measured laundry pods with stain-fighting and odor-removing power — a practical, easy-to-use household gift for busy friends or new grads.
From: How to get big coupons on the Tide laundry detergents you may be buying anyway.
Collegiate Mascot Bluetooth Speaker (Bitty Boomers)
Small collegiate-branded Bluetooth speaker that shows school spirit and is easy to pack.
From: 16 great high school graduation gift ideas that grads actually want. Besides cash.
The College Essay Guy: Essay Help Resources Pack
Guidance and tools for writing stronger college essays, making it a practical gift for students applying to college.
From the guide
Herschel Supply Co. "Pop Quiz" backpack
Herschel Supply Co. "Pop Quiz" backpack | $40 (regularly $80) This is one of our all-time favorite backpacks and it's half off at Nordstrom during the sale in several cool colors. Start your back-to-school shopping now!
From: 25+ amazing deals from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale because we're SO ready to refresh our wardrobes!
Waterproof Astoria 17L Backpack
Waterproof backpack with a padded 16" laptop pocket—practical for commuters, students, and travelers.
From: Join the dry sock club with Vessi's 100% waterproof shoes and accessories: 10 favorites for women, men, and teens this season
Rareform Brooklyn Backpack with Laptop Sleeve (upcycled billboard material)
Stylish, edgy backpack made from upcycled billboards with a padded laptop sleeve—durable and unique, a great non-traditional diaper-bag alternative for dads.
From: An edgy diaper bag alternative for dads not down with the diaper bag thing.
Harry Potter Backpacks & School Gear
Themed backpacks and school supplies from the Harry Potter collection—practical, fandom-friendly items for students.
From: The most magical pieces of the new Harry Potter collection from Pottery Barn
Crayola Color Wonder Scented Light-Up Stamper
Mess-free Color Wonder ink and scented stamp pads with a light-up stamp pad make creative, multisensory art play fun for young kids.
From: 7 hot toy trends from Toy Fair 2018Jellies App (handpicked kids videos)
A child-friendly video app aimed at preschool and elementary kids that offers curated content appropriate for younger viewers.
From the guide
Reusable Compartmentalized Lunch Container (Plastic)
A durable, multi-compartment plastic lunch box ideal for packing DIY Lunchables-style meals for kids on the go.
From the guideKidsBeeTV App (educator-curated kids videos)
A safe, educator-curated video app for preschoolers with interactive quizzes and weekly new content—good for screen-safe learning and entertainment.
From the guide