The 20 Best Back to School Supplies in 2022

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Class is in session!

Summertime is dwindling, which means fall and all that the season encompasses is on deck. But before some of us can peacefully sip our PSLs and cozy up in an oversize sweater next to our favorite scented candle, getting the kids ready for the fall semester takes precedence. The first order of business before class is officially in session? Shopping for back-to-school supplies.

If you’re overcome with a wave of nostalgia adding binders, notebooks, pencils, and crayons to your cart, you’re not alone. On top of reminiscing over your own school days past, it can be incredibly bittersweet to send little ones off to elementary, watch middle school graduates enter the busier halls of high school, or move your not-so-little one into a college dorm. Gifting them the tools they need to succeed in these environments is one of the best ways you can support them on their journey to higher education. Plus, it's another way to sneak in some parent-child bonding before they’re out of the house (be it for a few hours a day or weeks at a time).

So, where should you start? Once their closets are stocked with fall staples, tackling in-class essentials comes next, then dorm room must-haves for university-bound teens and/or homework helpers for grade school kids. It's a good idea to check your email prior to making any purchases, as some teachers will send out a supplies checklist to help you shop. If your inbox is empty, however, we’ve got you covered.

It turns out, ink isn't forever. Pilot's FriXion ball clicker erasable gel pens are downright magical. With erasable ink, your child can write, erase, and rewrite, without a trace of their original scribble lingering on the page. What's more, the pens are refillable, so purchasing a pack is a sustainable act. More writing, less waste.

While you’re adding Pilot's erasable pens to your cart, you’ll want to go ahead and add a pack of the brand's erasable highlighters, too. Some children go highlighter happy, adding color over passages that are not important, but with these innovative highlighters, however, unnecessary markups can be easily eradicated.

Choosing a planner for the year ahead is as personal as your skincare preferences. That said, The Happy Planner is one of the best on the market, and we can guarantee your high school or college student would be thrilled to have this scheduler on their side. Complete with 18 calendars, weekly spreads, and laminated covers to protect their pages, it's the ultimate planner for students who like to stay organized.

For middle and high school students constantly scribbling reminders on looseleaf, now they can jot down any fleeting thoughts between classes on this dry-erase sheet from Post-it. It's simple; all your child has to do is peel off the sheet's liner and stick it to their locker door for an instant whiteboard. Don't worry; dry-erase markers will come off clean, so the sheet can be written on again and again throughout the school year.

Do you have a little one who's learning how to read? Pottery Barn Kids' bookshelf is the perfect back-to-school surprise for aspiring bookworms. Along with space up top for their books, they also have two baskets for extra storage for stationery or toys.

College students have a lot on their schedule. Between classes, extracurriculars, and internships, pausing to eat, let alone cook, a warm meal for themselves is the last thing on their to-do list. Make on-the-go meals more convenient for your hard worker with this electric lunch box from Crockpot. It comes in six color options and can hold up to 1.3 pounds of food, plus its parts are dishwasher-safe, so cleanup isn't an issue.

It's never too early to teach our children the importance of inclusivity. The Crayola Colors of the World Skin Tone Markers box includes 24 markers, each shade representing different people from around the world. They’re more than art supplies; they’re a celebration of diversity.

Remember when Wite-Out only came in liquid form, and if you accidentally applied too much, the stuff would dry goopy and bumpy, only making your paper look worse? Enter BIC's Wite-Out EZ Correct correction tape. Pieces eject from the plastic dispenser and apply easily, drying instantly. Once it's down on paper, you can write over the spot in seconds.

Stasher bags saw a surge in popularity thanks to social media over the past few years, but if somehow these reusable food storage bags aren't on your radar, consider this a friendly PSA to hop on this sustainability train. The bags are made from washable silicone and are microwave-, dishwasher-, oven-, and freezer-safe. They come in countless colors, prints, and sizes, and are as awesome at storing snacks and leftovers as they are great for the planet.

Pencil cases are still cool in our book and if you agree, this one from EastHill should definitely be added to your back-to-school supplies list. Aside from its incredibly sleek aesthetic and nine stunning color options, it's aptly named for its large storage capacity; it can fit up to a whopping 50 pens or 90 pencils, plus small stationery items. They’ll want one for school, and you might want one for work.

Granted, a lot of schools are working with laptops these days, but writing is still a priority in the classroom. Unfortunately, pencils are also still uncomfortable to write with after a while, as the wood rubs up against your student's finger. The solution? Cushiony pencil grips that can alleviate some of the discomfort.

College students will surely miss cable TV in their dorm rooms, so while the Amazon Fire Stick could be categorized as an unconventional back-to-school supply, for the avid television and movie watcher, it's practically a bare necessity. Users will be able to stream 1 million movies and TV episodes straight from Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Peacock, and more, and searching is made easy thanks to the device's Alexa voice remote.

If your college kid is opting to survive on sustenance beyond a meal service option, add this meal planner from Ban.do to their cart ASAP. Your chef-in-training can easily plan out their meals on this decorative page, as well as jot down a definitive grocery list for the week. One stack includes 50 sheets (so you might want to invest in a few) and includes a magnet on the back, perfect for their refrigerator displays.

Rather than have them slip their laptop into their shoulder bag, this sleeve offers their precious tech some much-needed protection. The sleeve is made from polyester and features a pocket for charging cords, as well as a shock-resistant bubble foam padding layer for optimal protection. It also comes in a wide range of color options, plus six sizes to best match their laptop's dimensions.

Help your student stay hydrated with the cult-favorite Hydro Flask water bottle. Available in 24 oz, 32 oz, and 40 oz sizes, this sturdy reusable water bottle features a wide-mouth straw and TempShield insulation. It keeps cold drinks chilled for up to 24 hours, and hot liquids steaming for up to 12 hours.

Gone are the days when you’d have to pack all your kids’ snacks in individual baggies, thanks to bento-style lunch boxes. These multi-compartment food containers from Bentgo are roomy enough to stash a sandwich, snacks, and even dipping sauce, making for a sustainable and mess-free meal setup. Available in over 20 kid-friendly designs, including puppies, sharks, trucks, and sports, the box features a removable compartment tray that's microwave-friendly and dishwasher-proof, so cleaning and reheating are both easy processes.

Dorm room laundry baskets have come a long way. Ditch the mesh bags that always seem like they’re one load away from ripping and, instead, treat your college student to this laundry tote from Bed Bath & Beyond. The lightweight, sturdy tote is a convenient way to move 2 loads of laundry and is also collapsible, giving your student much needed space in their dorm room when they don't have laundry.

Instead of having a handful of cords crowd your student's study space, the Attom Techn self-adhesive multi-opening cable clip system boasts seven slots for loose cables. It can be for computer cords, TV cables, power cords, USB cables, mouse cables, cellphone chargers, and more, and can adhere to desks, walls, and even the car.

When you’re in elementary school, fewer things are more exciting than picking out a new backpack. These logo bags from Abercrombie come in cool designs, including blue dye, floral, and camo, and come clad with mesh water bottle holders on each side, a padded laptop pocket, and a zipper closure. They’re roomy on the inside and supportive on the outside, so your little 0ne can cart their books and other school supplies to and from class with ease.

Any back-to-school supplies that keep your child's dorm a little less cluttered are a win. Take this bedside caddy from Trycooling, for example. It attaches to their bed rail and offers four storage compartments for easy access. We especially love this pick for late-night study sessions. When your student is too tired to walk over to their desk, they’ll slip their books into the caddy rather than pop them messily on the floor.

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