The ultimate back to school shopping checklist for parents

Back to school means a fresh set of pens, so make sure they’re kept in an easy-to-spot case. That probably means less of a chance to lose them rattling around in the bottom of the school bag! This range of novelty-shaped pencil cases from Typo is high on our shopping hit list: from a chilli to a lemon and even a tin of sardines, it’s very cute and very practical.

Make 2025 the year you don’t miss another sports practice, production rehearsal or mufti day. Designed to be placed in the heart of your home – the kitchen – this planner is impossible for you, your partner and the kids to ignore. Taking you from chaos to calm, weekly and monthly planning sections, you can also make special notes and add to your grocery list. Just stick it on the fridge, write on and wipe it off – any chalk pen or whiteboard marker will work. 

Sling this backpack over your shoulder and head out for the new year. The Everything Backpack features a thermal-lined section to keep lunch fresh until you’re ready to dig in, and multiple compartments for your valuables, including an integrated laptop pocket. It’s easy to clean and stain-resistant, so it’s ready to handle whatever the schoolyard throws at it. Plus, with padded straps and back panels for maximum comfort, the school commute is easy peasy. 

The school year is always busy from the start, so make sure your kid has the jumpstart they need after summer with all the important dates for the year easily to hand. Important tests, assignment due dates, and school production rehearsals will go in this diary, which includes a monthly overview, public holiday pages, and fun stickers for personalising it. 

A good school day is dependent on a nourishing lunch, so make sure it’s all packed away in a chic bento box like this one from the Good Brand. With separate compartments, built-in cutlery and a strap to tie the boxes together, it can hold all the protein-packed snacks to keep a school kid fuelled and on the move. 

Young brains must stay hydrated throughout the school day, so make drinking water less of a chore with a drink bottle they’ll be proud to have on their desks. This ombre Lululemon drink bottle has a built-in straw lid and a slip-free texture to make one-handed drinking a breeze, even while laden with school books.