Every holiday at the beginning seems like an endless amount of time, and then suddenly it turns out that there's a week left until September 1st, and the school kit is still waiting to be completed. This is a very common scenario, which ends with chaotic last-minute shopping, often at worse prices and without the choice of favorite designs. To avoid this, we have prepared a detailed checklist that you can tick off point by point - divided into categories, so it's easier to manage and not get lost in the details.
Backpack and school accessories
These are usually the biggest and most important purchases of the entire school kit, so it's good to plan them well in advance. Check a backpack suited to age and grade, a pencil case with a complete set of supplies, a bag for changeable footwear, and notebooks according to the teacher's list, if you already have it.
Learning supplies
Small supplies are easy to overlook in the general rush, and their absence in the first week can be the most troublesome. Gather crayons, pencils, an eraser, and a sharpener, as well as a ruler and geometric instruments - see our selection - and paints or a creative set, if the school requires it. It's also worth adding a folder or a pad for loose sheets, which comes in handy more often than one might think.
Everyday essentials
These are things that accompany the child every day, so it's worth paying attention to them for a moment. A lunchbox or thermal bag, a water bottle, PE uniform (if applicable), and a spare pair of socks or underwear hidden in the backpack - a small detail that can save the day when something unexpected happens.
Formalities
It's easy to forget about them, focusing only on shopping, and yet formalities are what can cause the most problems in the first week. Signed consents and documents from the school or kindergarten, a checked timetable or schedule of activities, a planned route and way to get there for the first day, and updated contact details at the secretariat or with the homeroom teacher - it's worth taking care of all of this in advance, instead of doing it in a rush on the evening of August 31st.
Weekly breakdown - how to spread out your shopping
Instead of doing everything in one weekend, which usually ends in fatigue and random decisions, it's worth spreading out your shopping over several weeks in August. In the first week, it's good to review what's left from the previous year, in the second, focus on the backpack and pencil case as the biggest purchases, in the third, supplement notebooks, supplies, and small items, and leave the last week for top-ups and formalities. Such a plan allows for calm decisions instead of rushing.
Last week of August
This is a good time for final purchases - if something is missing, check out our bestsellers to quickly complete the rest of the school kit without long searching through the offer. It's also worth preparing clothes and a backpack the evening before the first day, so that the morning is calmer - without searching last minute for one missing item that always seems to disappear at the least convenient moment.
Budget - how not to overspend
It's worth setting an approximate budget for the entire school kit in advance and sticking to the shopping list instead of buying impulsively under the influence of a momentary opportunity. Buying earlier, instead of in the last week of August, usually also gives a wider choice and less rush in making decisions, which indirectly also protects the budget - you are less likely to opt for the first best option then.
Summary
Print this list or save it on your phone and tick off point by point - thanks to this, the last week of holidays will pass without stress, instead of turning into a chase for missing items.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to start school shopping?
Optimally at the turn of July and August - greater choice and less rush than in the last week of holidays.
Do you have to buy everything at once?
No - spreading purchases over several weeks is easier for the budget and allows you to calmly compare options.