Back-to-School Essentials: A Complete Checklist for Every Grade
The new school year comes with a long list of things to prepare, from school bags and stationery to lunch boxes, water bottles and study essentials. But what your child needs can change significantly as they move from kindergarten to primary school, middle school and high school.
The good news? You don't need to figure it all out at once.
This back to school checklist breaks down the essentials by school stage, so you can see what your child is likely to need and what is worth buying before the first day. From everyday school supplies to lunch essentials and digital learning essentials , use this guide to make your Back to School shopping simpler.
Back to School tip: Before you start shopping, check your child's school supply list. Requirements can vary by school, curriculum and grade.
Back to School Essentials at a Glance
| School stage | What to look for |
| Kindergarten | School bag, lunch box, water bottle, stationery and art supplies |
| Primary school | School bag, notebooks, stationery, lunch box, lunch bag and classroom supplies |
| Middle school | Backpack, notebooks, stationery, calculator, lunch essentials and study accessories |
| High school | Backpack, stationery, calculator, laptop or tablet, headphones and other Digital learning essentials |
Now let's break down what each stage may need.
1. Kindergarten Essentials: Keep It Simple
If you're preparing your little one for kindergarten, focus on products that are lightweight, practical and easy for them to use independently.
Kindergarten checklist
- A lightweight school bag
- Lunch box or snack box
- Pencils and crayons
- Colouring supplies
- Kid-safe scissors
- Activity or drawing books
- Basic stationery
- Name labels for bags, bottles and supplies
- Tissues and personal care essentials
At this stage, you don't need to fill the bag with every possible school supply. Choose a few good-quality essentials that your child can comfortably carry and use.
A little preparation goes a long way
Labeling your child's belongings before school starts can save plenty of confusion later. Bags, lunch boxes, water bottles, pencil cases and jackets are all worth labeling.
2. Primary School Essentials: Build an Everyday Kit
Once children move into primary school, their list usually grows. They may have more notebooks, subject-specific stationery and classroom activities to manage.
This is when having an organised school bag and a reliable lunch setup becomes especially useful.
Primary school checklist
For the classroom:
- School bag
- Notebooks and writing pads
- Pencils and pens
- Eraser and sharpener
- Ruler
- Colour pencils and markers
- Geometry set, if required
- Folders for worksheets
- Art and craft supplies
- Other classroom resources requested by the school
For lunch:
- Stainless steel lunch box or reusable lunch box
- Lunch bag
- Water bottle
- Snack containers
When choosing a lunch box, think about how easy it is for your child to open, close and clean. A durable stainless steel lunch box can be a practical reusable option for everyday school meals.
Choosing the right school bag
Primary school children may carry more books and supplies than they did in kindergarten, so their bag needs to balance capacity and comfort.
If you're unsure what size or style to choose, read our School Backpack Buying Guide for Different Age Groups before making your choice.
3. Middle School Essentials: Get Ready for More Subjects
Moving into middle school often means more subjects, more notebooks and a bigger workload.
Instead of one general stationery kit, students may now need different notebooks, folders and tools for different subjects.
Middle school checklist
- Spacious backpack
- Subject notebooks
- Pens and pencils
- Highlighters
- Pencil case
- Ruler and geometry set
- Calculator, if required
- Folders for notes and worksheets
- Headphones or earphones
- Lunch box
- Water bottle
This is also a good time to create a dedicated study space at home. A desk organiser, comfortable headphones or a good study lamp can help keep homework and revision more organised.
4. High School Essentials: Add Technology to the List
For many high school students, Back to School shopping goes beyond notebooks and stationery.
Depending on their curriculum and school requirements, students may need digital technology for research, presentations, assignments, online learning and other classroom resources.
High school checklist
- Durable backpack
- Notebooks
- Pens, pencils and highlighters
- Calculator
- Geometry and stationery essentials
- Laptop or tablet
- Headphones
- Mouse and other computer accessories
- Printer
- Lunch box
- Reusable water bottle
Before buying a laptop or tablet, check your child's school requirements. Some schools may specify the operating system, storage, screen size or other technical specifications.
Planning a laptop, tablet or printer purchase?
The Back to School period can also be a good time to upgrade your child's study setup.
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This can be particularly useful for families planning a larger technology purchase for the new academic year.
5. Don't Forget the Lunch Box Essentials
A school lunch isn't just about choosing the right food. The container you use matters too.
Your everyday lunch checklist can include:
- Lunch box
- Stainless steel lunch box
- Lunch bag
- Snack containers
- Water bottle
- Reusable cutlery
For younger children, choose containers they can open without help. For older students, look for lunch boxes with enough room for a full meal and snacks while still fitting comfortably into their bag.
A separate lunch bag can also help keep food organised and prevent spills from getting into books and stationery.
6. School Supplies You May Need at Home
Some school supplies don't necessarily need to go into your child's school bag every day, but having them at home can save you from last-minute shopping.
Consider keeping:
- Extra notebooks
- Printer paper
- Pens and pencils
- Sticky notes
- Highlighters
- Art and craft supplies
- Folders
- Labels
- Printer ink or cartridges
- Desk organisers
These everyday school supplies can come in handy for homework, projects, presentations and assignments throughout the year.
7. How to Make Back to School Shopping Easier
Instead of trying to buy everything in one go, divide your list into three simple categories:
Must-haves
These are items your school specifically asks for, such as notebooks, stationery, calculators or particular classroom resources.
Everyday essentials
These are products your child will use regularly, such as a school bag, lunch box, lunch bag and water bottle.
Study upgrades
These include products that can support learning at home, such as a laptop, tablet, headphones, printer or desk accessories.
This approach helps you focus on what your child actually needs instead of buying everything that catches your eye.
Back to School Shopping? Here's an Extra Reason to Stock Up
If you're already shopping for school essentials, you can make your purchases count.
Buy school essentials and get a chance to win 50,000 Share Points, exclusively for Share members. So whether you're picking up stationery, a new school bag, lunch essentials or other Back to School must-haves, check out the offer before you shop.
Students can also take advantage of Back to School Student Offers. A valid student ID must be presented at the time of delivery.
Offer terms and conditions apply.
Ready for the New School Year?
From kindergarten to high school, the right essentials can make the start of a new school year feel much more organised.
Start with your child's school requirements, work through this checklist and then add the everyday products that fit their age, routine and learning needs.
Whether you're buying your child's first school bag, replacing a well-used lunch box or setting up a new study space with a laptop or tablet, getting organised early means one less thing to worry about when the school year begins.
Shop Back to School essentials and get ready for the new term.
