Most schools have a standard kindergarten school supply list. The method of providing a list of school supplies may differ from kindergarten to kindergarten and school district; you may find it on the school website, office, or in your email inbox. However, most items on the kindergarten school supply list are standard items. If you wonder what supplies to send your child to school with, have a conversation with the school’s kindergarten teacher.
It’s exciting when your little one is going to Kindergarten; if you are eager to start your school shopping, this school shopping guide should benefit you. You can always expand the kindergarten school supply list with extra items when school starts.
Essential School Supply Lists
Parents will save time by buying enough supplies listed on the essential back-to-school supplies list; these are school supplies their child will use the entire year. For all grade levels, a back-to-school supplies list features recurring school supplies for every grade level. Likewise, a kindergarten supply list is a standard school supplies list that is similar irrespective of your child’s school.
- A regular-sized backpack without wheels, a book bag, or a tote bag
- A lunchbox or lunch bag
- One water bottle
- A pencil pouch or pencil box (preferably not a zippered pencil pouch)
- One box of crayons, Crayola crayons
- One pack of colored pencils
- One dozen pencils, #2 pencils
- Pencil sharpeners
- Erasers, pink eraser
- 8-12 All-purpose glue sticks
- Two all-purpose glue, bottle Elmer’s glue
- One pair of blunt 5-inch Fiskars scissors, handle labeled with student name
- Paintbrushes
- A set of watercolor paints
- A box of markers, washable markers
- Three plastic pocket folders with brads
- Wide-ruled notebook paper
Why Are These Items On The Kindergarten Supply List?
Your child is going to Kindergarten; it’s not a high school supply list. Parents may wonder if all the items are truly necessary when looking at the kindergarten supply list. Although your child’s school may differ in its school supplies list, these back-to-school supplies are essential for your child’s school year.
- Regular-Sized Backpacks. Preschool backpacks may look cute on your children, but they are too small to fit daily folders and schoolwork effectively. Standard-sized backpacks hold folders, library books, and jackets. A full-sized folder fits easily in a regular-sized backpack, tote bag, or school bag.
- Pouch For School Supplies. A pencil box or a pencil pouch keeps pencils, crayons, markers, and erasers together. A pencil box could be easier to handle than a zippered pencil case.
- Non-Yearly Item. It’s tempting to buy multiple supplies at the store, but be mindful of which items you purchase in bulk. Some school supplies last longer than a year, and other supplies need to be replaced during the school season.
- Dry Erase Markers. A classic marker erases quickly and is easy for little hands to grip when drawing or writing on the dry erase board or whiteboard. Dry erase markers work well for math journals and calendar binders.
- Washable Marker. A student signs their artwork with a washable marker. Students also use it for word work and drawing large numbers.
- Composition Notebooks. Working in a composition notebook keeps your child’s drawing and school work together for parents to admire. A composition notebook is sturdy and will last the school year, despite the wear and tear.
- Playdough. Playdough is a fantastic item to add to the essential school supplies list. The kinesthetic properties of playdough appeal to all kids, and school teachers love to use it in the classroom.
Basic Supplies For The School Year
Students will also need these additional supplies for their Kindergarten school year. These basic back-to-school supplies list is additional supplies that make life easier; for example, labeling everything prevents students from losing their stuff.
- Personalized labels to label all the school supplies
- Address labels
- Two spiral notebooks
- Two packages of multi-color construction paper
- One ream white copy paper
- One ream white card stock
- 52 Ziploc bags, gallon size, and sandwich size
- Clorox wipes, large size
- A bottle of hand sanitizer
- A bottle of antibacterial soap
- A set of headphones or earbuds
- A box of tissues
- Playdough
- A pack of colored, pocket plastic folders
- One package of graph paper
- A 3-ring binder
- A change of clothing in a Ziploc bag marked with the child’s name
- A ruler
- An art shirt is optional but will keep your kid’s clothes clean
Extra School Supplies
Some school supplies will last all year long, and others won’t. Buy additional items your child will need and keep them at home. Buying bulk can save money, and families can use most items on the essential school supply list at home or next year. You can always stock up for next year if your child doesn’t use these extra school supplies during their Kindergarten school year.
- An extra set of clothes
- An extra couple of pencils
- One set of dry-erase markers
- One set of crayons, 24-count crayons
- Three large pink erasers
- Three bottles of anti-bacterial soap
- One box of tissues
- An extra glue bottle
- Extra binders
- A set of headphones or earbuds or replace when needed
- Additional spiral notebooks wide ruled
Alternative Kindergarten School Supplies List Ideas
Ask your child’s Pre-K school or Kindergarten teacher for alternative school supplies that are sometimes more practical than the items on the essential school supply list. You’ll be surprised at the helpful tips and advice years of experience may deliver. For example,
- Baby Socks In The Pencil Box. Baby socks are perfect for quickly slipping onto a child’s hands like a glove. The child doesn’t have to wear them; they can hold them.
- Baby Wash Cloths. Another item for the pencil pouch is a baby washcloth instead of dry erase marker erasers.
- Beach Towel. A beach towel is large enough for your child and takes less space to pack. Beach towels are excellent for kids to lie on during rest time.
Additional Classroom Supplies On The School Supplies List
It’s not just parents who have a school supplies list; every school year, teachers also have a back-to-school shopping list for themselves and ways to make learning fun for students. Your child’s teacher may not mention this school supplies list but will greatly appreciate contributions from parents. Ask the teacher which classroom supplies you can add to your school supply list to help contribute to her shopping budget. Parents may purchase the bulk at the beginning of the year, but teachers need supplies throughout the year irrespective of the grade.
- $10 Donation for miscellaneous items
- Paper towel roll
- Drawing paper
- Loose-leaf paper
- Pack of colored construction paper
- Boxes of tissues for the class to use
- Package of colored card stock
- Package of white card stock
- Crayon sharpener
- Playdough
- Clipboards
- Binders
- Expo markers
- Anchor chart markers
- Bottle of hand sanitizer
Classroom Supplies For First Aid Kit
Depending on the rules, your child’s teacher probably has a small classroom first aid kit for minor cuts and scrapes. Many schools have a nurse, but sometimes a bandaid is all your child needs or gauze to cover the injury until they reach the nurse or medic.
- One box of bandages
- Bandaids in different sizes and shapes for scrapes and paper cuts
- Exam gloves
- Antiseptic pads to clean cuts
- A pair of tweezers to remove splinters
- Adhesive tape to hold gauze
- Gauze pads for playground scrapes that are too big for bandaids
- Tissues
- A pair of scissors
Clothes School Supplies List For The School Year
Back to school shopping includes shopping for clothes for every season. Children are growing, and what parents purchase at the beginning of the summer or last year won’t necessarily fit when school starts. In the long run, it’s more economical to purchase clothing when kids need them throughout the year.
- 3-4 Pants or dresses
- 2-3 Shorts or skirts
- 4-5 Shirts
- New shoes for growing feet
- Gym shoes for gym class
- Sweater
- Hoodie
- Rain jacket
- Rain boots
- Umbrella
- Winter coat
- Snow pants
- Snow boots
- Hat
- Gloves
- Uniform blazer with tie
- Face mask
To-Do List For Back To School Supplies List
A back-to-school supplies list features a long list of items boys and girls need for school. However, the school supply list also includes a to-do list for preparing students for school.
- Shopping school supplies list
- Label all kindergarten school supplies
- Sign the child up for activities
- Arrange for childcare
- Make the meal and snack plans
- Create a homework area
- Get your child’s classroom teacher’s phone number and email
- A doctor check-up
- A dental check-up
- Schedule eye exam
- Add dates to the calendar
- A small gift for the teacher or a friendly note
Tips For Kindergarten School Supply List
A school supply list for any grade level can be daunting and challenging on the budget. Parents may want to purchase the cheapest items or sale items, but it isn’t always the wisest choice.
- Brand Specific. Sometimes, the school’s supply lists are brand-specific and often more expensive than what’s on sale. There is a reason why your child’s teacher insists on the more expensive item. For example, some brands of crayons don’t color as bright as others, and some colored pencils easily break when sharpened.
- Use Items Next Year. A money-saving tip is to use and reuse items. Buy a decent backpack that your child can use for a couple of years. A quality black backpack will last for years, and you can decorate it if it’s too bland for your kid. Likewise, a non-themed backpack may seem ordinary but is a better money-saving option than a cheerful character your child loses interest in and doesn’t want to use the backpack anymore.
- Specials And Deals. Save money by looking for deals on school supplies at local stores or online. Some office supplies stores have overflowing amounts of school supplies, allowing them to give more significant discounts than other stores.
- Buy Extra Supplies. Some items will last the school year or longer, but others will require replenishing throughout the year. Buy extra supplies and keep these extra items at home until needed.
- Back-To-School Supplies List. Make a school supplies list, and don’t deviate from the list, even when the store has great deals. You’ll save money if you stick to the back-to-school shopping list and do not purchase other supplies students won’t need.
- Label Back-To-School Supplies. Kids mislay things and forget things. By labeling the school supplies with a name tag or address, things won’t be forgotten or mixed up with another child’s stuff. If a kid accidentally packs another kid’s pencils, crayons, lunch box, or pencil pouch, parents will notice and return it to the rightful owner.
- Lunch Kit. Learning is necessary, and so is eating nutritious meals.Packing a lunch kit for your little student requires some planning too. Before going to the stores, decide what type of lunch kit your child needs. Do they need a lunch bag or snack box, a water bottle or juice bottle, and a thermos container to keep soups warm or drinks cool?
- Sharing Of Supplies (SOS). Some families are struggling and cannot afford to purchase school supplies. Contact your child’s teacher or visit the school’s main office if you would like to donate school supplies.
- Inventory List. Families often have multiple kids in school. Many school supplies are the same for each grade level. Before going to the store, take stock of school supplies you already have at home.
- Don’t Buy Everything The First Week. Some school supplies your kids need for the first week of school. However, they do need to replenish supplies during the year. When the back-to-school supplies rush is no longer crucial, a store may sell these leftover school supplies dirt cheap. Wait for these deals to buy items your kids will need later in the year.
Did we cover all the essentials, or did we miss items on the general Kindergarten school supplies list?