Thank you so much for all your kind messages about my Lowe’s makeover. I certainly have some specifics to show you, and I’m working on that. For now, however, we have something perilous to talk about. Back. to. school. “GAH! Run for your lives! Hide the alarm clocks! Not peanut butter sandwiches again!”
Once the flood of negativity has worn off, perhaps you can appreciate that stuff needs to get done. Preparations have to be made. Get yourself together! As a high school teacher and a mom of teens, I’m here to help you with that. I shopped for you (you’re welcome) to find some of the best supplies for you… errrr your student.
1. Ikat backpack 2. Colorful backpack 3. Pottery Barn backpack
4. Black backpack 5. Under Armour backpack 6. Camo backpack
First things first. Girls want something cute. Boys don’t care. However…here are some things I suggest. Look for sturdy and comfortable straps. Most backpacks have them, but think about how much your son/daughter will be walking around with these things. It can be a haul. Secondly, I would suggest making sure it’s big (duh) and that it can accommodate a laptop or tablet. They may not bring them to school, but they take them with them to friends’ houses, practices, etc. Believe me, they’ll need them.
1. Roxy lunch bag 2. Floral lunch bag 3. Purple lunch bag
Lunch bags. There’s some drama around this issue. Boys don’t use them after elementary school, and girls start to abandon them in middle school. Wanna know what they use? Drumroll, please.
While it’s not pretty, 87% of teenagers will use the bags above. Be sure to get the jumbo or giant bags if you can. The smaller ones simply don’t hold enough food—especially for your athletes!
1. Roxy pencil case 2. Teal gray pencil case
3. Pencil pouch 4. Black pencil pouch
Pencil pouches were kinda nerdy when I went to school. I think? I have about 0.67% of my high school memory left, so who knows? Regardless, they are ultra-important now. Kids have to have them, and they’re very common. Obviously, the girls can go all cray-cray with theirs. The boys? Basic. Very. (A word of note—I just bought the Roxy one. It’s irresistable.)
And finally, locker decorations. Don’t let Pottery Barn Teen fool you. The rugs and chandeliers? No. But here are some things that they do use or would benefit from.
1. Locker magnet pouch 2. 3M hook 3. Locker mirror 4. Locker basket
A lot of kids will use something as simple as a 3M hook for their keys, ID lanyards, etc. Highly recommend. The mirror or whiteboard isn’t imperative unless you ask a teenage girl. They need them. And of course, the pencil holder is a big deal. They use it for chapstick, lipstick, cellphones, and whatever else they deem necessary. Notice I did not say pencils.
So there’s your start! What about actual supplies, you ask? That’s next! I’ll be back.
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