Back to School – Clothes Supplies & Checklist

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I love back to school shopping..I always have. 

I love wandering around Target gazing at all of those bins of crayons and highlighters and index cards. 

When I was a kid, I would carefully choose my back to school outfit at least a week before school started. I would wear those new jeans and probably a sweater, no matter how hot it was that first week of September.

This is the time of year when I sort through my kids closets to get an idea of what they might need for the coming year. 

Closet Sorting is Critical

My first step is to grab my back to school checklist and head to the closet.

Back to school shopping is easy & fun with this clothes and supplies checklist.

This step usually involves an hour or so of sitting on the floor of my daughters closet making her try on clothes. 

We go through each item by category to try to make the process go smoothly. I’ll be honest, my kids HATE this part. 

I try to make it fun by chatting about what types of clothes she likes and doesn’t like, to involve her more in the shopping process.

This process is definitely worth all of the effort. By the end of the hour, we’ve got a complete list of everything that she needs and we’re ready to shop. 

Whenever I see a back to school sale, I grab my checklist and pounce on those deals!

With my 3 year old…I try on some things, but usually I just buy the next size up in most everything. It’s simpler and I know that she’s going to wear it eventually. Trying on a bunch of clothes with a 3 year old…not worth it.

Back to School Checklist

This is my back to school checklist for my daughters. If you have boys, you can probably eliminate the dresses and bras. 

My oldest daughter doesn’t love to wear pants so I tend to buy extra leggings. Do what works for you, as long as you end up with a list of what you need. 

Back to school shopping without a detailed list is just chaos in my opinion.

Check out Target for some great Back to School DEALS!

• 3-4 Pairs of Jeans
• 4-6 Short Sleeved Tops
• 4-6 Long Sleeved Tops
• 3-4 Sweatshirts or Hoodies
• 3-4 Sweaters
• 3-4 Pants
• 2-4 Dresses
• 2-4 Skirts
• 3-6 Leggings or Tights
• 8-12 Pairs of Socks
• 8-12 Pairs of Underwear
• 6-8 Camis or Bras/Sports Bras
• Dress Shoes
• Running Shoes
• Casual Sneaker
• Boots
• Rain Boots & Jacket
• Fall Jacket
• 1-2 Fleece
• Winter Coat
• Winter Boots
• Winter Hats, Gloves, Scarves
• Hair Accessories

Supplies List – In Person

Always check with your school before heading out to buy school supplies. 

Most schools post a list of supplies that they recommend purchasing. But the majority of kids are going to need a lot these basic supplies:

• Back Pack
• Water Bottle
• Binder
• Pencils
• Pens
• Highlighters
• Erasers
• Pencil Sharpener
• Pencil Box
• Hand Sanitizer
• Masks
• Hand Wipes
• Tissues
• Scissors
• Tape
• Markers
• Crayons
• Folders
• Notebooks
• Rulers

Supplies List – Virtual

If your child is going to be attending school virtually this year, they’ll still need school supplies. 

I’m getting my daughter excited about this coming year by setting up a space of her own with a new bulletin board and brightly colored desk accessories. 

 also let her pick out her favorite new pencils, pens and notebooks to match her new space.

• Laptop or Chromebook (my daughter has been using this one and loves it)
• Printer Paper
• Notebooks
• Pencils
• Pens
• Highlighters
• Colored Pencils
• Pencil Sharpener
• Scissors
• Tape
• Markers
• Crayons
• Folders
• Desk Organizers and Trays
• Pencil Cup
• Bulletin Board
• Rulers

Enjoy your back to school shopping! Hope these lists are helpful!