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.
Halloween Lunchbox Recipe Pack for Kids
Lunchbox-sized Halloween meal ideas that make cute, portable gifts for kids or thoughtful packed-lunch surprises.
From the guideEndless Alphabet (app)
Interactive alphabet app that teaches letter sounds and word meanings with playful animations—great for preschoolers beginning to read.
From the guideWallykazam Letter & Word Magic (app)
Nickelodeon-backed app with engaging animations and mini-games that make letter and word practice feel like play.
From the guide
Silicone Mason Jar Sleeves from Masonre
Bright silicone sleeves that protect glass mason jars from bumps and provide extra grip — practical for lunchboxes.
From the guideBob's Books Reading Magic #1 (app)
App based on the Bob Books series that helps kids recognize letters in simple sentences and watch illustrated scenes come to life.
From the guideMontessori Crossword (app)
Montessori-inspired app that guides kids to build words by matching letters to pictures, fostering phonics and problem-solving skills.
From the guide
Jar Connector from Mason Jar Lifestyle
Screw-on jar connector that joins two mason jars with silicone seals so you can keep different foods separate in one container.
From the guideEndless Reader (app)
Follow-up to Endless Alphabet that teaches sight words and sentence context with animated word puzzles and narrated scenes.
From the guide
SunButter Peanut-Free Sunflower Seed Spread (jars & pouches)
A nut-free sunflower seed butter available in jars and convenient single-serve pouches — great for school lunches and snack kits.
From the guideDrive About Numbers (kids math app)
A guided learning-path math app that combines mini-games and progressive lessons to build early number skills — a thoughtful digital gift for preschoolers.
From the guide
Mason Jars (Wide-Mouth, Tall)
Tall glass mason jars perfect for layering components of a charcuterie-style lunch and securing with a lid for portability.
From the guideElmo Loves 123s (Sesame Street app)
A Sesame Street–branded counting app with tracing, puzzles, videos and parental controls that makes number learning engaging for young children.
From the guide
Silicone Cupcake Holders (Reusable Baking Cups)
Flexible, washable silicone holders that work as little cups for fruit, crackers or dips—great for packing reusable, kid-friendly lunch portions.
From the guideQuick Math Jr.
A skill-building math app where kids design monster avatars and parents can track progress with report cards — good for motivated early learners.
From the guideDuck Math by Duck Duck Moose
A free math app with playful themed mini-games and real-world contexts (like following smoothie recipes) to teach number recognition and basic operations.
From the guide
Vegan Snack Box Ingredients Bundle (Plant-Based)
Curated selection of plant-based snack items (vegan cheeses, crackers, spreads) to build a vegan charcuterie-style lunch for kids and teens.
From the guideDragonBox Numbers
A game-like early math app that disguises learning as play with character-based activities teaching counting, addition and subtraction.
From the guide
Compact Charcuterie Board for One (Wooden)
Small wooden serving board suited for assembling single-serving charcuterie-style lunches with crackers, meats, cheeses, and fruit.
From the guideEndless Numbers
An animated number-learning app with cute characters and playful interactions that reinforce number recognition and simple arithmetic for little kids.
From the guide
Insulated Kids Water Bottle
Durable, insulated water bottle to keep drinks cold for school days and busy mornings — practical and giftable for kids.
From the guideDuolingo ABC (free kids reading app)
A free, kid-focused app that teaches the alphabet, phonics, sight words, and early reading skills through bite-sized, gamified lessons—great for young learners and parents wanting screen-based practice.
From the guide
Cute Clip-On Hand Sanitizer Bottle
Compact, clip-on hand sanitizer bottle that attaches to a lunchbox for easy access and extra hygiene on the go — a practical small gift for kids.
From the guideTimio Educational Audio Player
A screen-free audio player with 20 interchangeable magnetic disks that play stories, songs, animal sounds and learning content — great for early literacy and quiet play.
From the guide
SoYoung Insulated Lunch Bag
A rugged yet fashionable insulated lunch bag available in playful prints and multiple sizes — great for school-aged kids who want personality with function.
From the guide