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.
Personalized Name Label Set (Mabel's Labels)
Durable personalized name labels to mark belongings — a practical, kid-friendly Easter gift.
From: Your kids will love these 35 affordable Easter basket ideas - all under $15!
WeCare Kid-Sized Disposable Face Masks (Pack of 50)
Child-sized disposable masks in fun patterns—practical, affordable option for school, outings, or as a handy backup supply.
From: The one trick to make sure your child's face mask fits properly, to comply with the brand new CDC recommendations.
Mabel's Labels Personalized Name Labels
Durable, customizable name labels and tags ideal for marking kids' belongings to reduce lost items—practical and thoughtful for busy families.
From the guide
Animal Friends Stainless Steel Kids Water Bottle (silicone exterior)
Cute, grippy silicone exterior stainless steel bottle that’s spillproof and keeps drinks cold ~24 hours or hot ~12 hours — a practical, kid-friendly gift for school or camp.
From: The new water bottles your kids may want to take to bed: One Cool ThingNintendo Mario Pencil Case (handmade)
Handmade Mario-themed pencil case — practical and collectible for school supplies.
From the guideFull-Sheet Printable Sticker Paper (for Inkjet/Printer)
Blank adhesive sticker paper is a great gift for crafty kids to print custom labels, science journaling stickers, and DIY project decorations.
From the guide
Elmer's School Glue
A reliable, non-toxic glue that’s useful for candy mosaic art, school projects, and everyday crafting — a handy gift for families with kids.
From: What to do with leftover Halloween candy: 11 creative ideas besides you know, just eating it.
Box Tops for Education (Fundraising Program)
A simple way to support schools by collecting Box Tops from household products or scanning receipts via the app — a low-cost, practical gift to boost school fundraising.
From: 13 effective ways to support your school if you don't have a ton of time or money
Nose-shaped Pencil Sharpener
A novelty nose-shaped pencil sharpener adds gross-out humor and practical use as a quirky non-candy Valentine.
From: 14 non-candy Valentine ideas for kids with printables: Perfect for classroom parties or kids with enough candy in their lives
Emoji Erasers (novelty eraser pack)
Fun emoji-shaped erasers are a playful, classroom-safe non-candy Valentine that kids enjoy collecting and using.
From: 14 non-candy Valentine ideas for kids with printables: Perfect for classroom parties or kids with enough candy in their lives
Highlighter (single)
A bright highlighter is a practical, inexpensive non-candy Valentine kids can use for schoolwork or crafts.
From: 14 non-candy Valentine ideas for kids with printables: Perfect for classroom parties or kids with enough candy in their lives