Back to School Tips, Books, & Supplies for an Amazing, Intentional Year
As a new school year begins, it’s the perfect time to refresh your routines, stock up on smart supplies, and set the tone for success at home and in the classroom. Whether you're sending your kids back to school or gearing up for another year of homeschooling, this guide is packed with practical Back to School tips, inspiring books, helpful resources, and non-toxic swaps to support your family’s health and well-being. From lunchbox ideas to morning routines and safer gear, these simple strategies will help you kick off the year with confidence, clarity, and a whole lot of joy.
Back to school can be a huge transition. When kids are emotionally supported for the transition, feel physically healthy, and are well-rested, they can learn, connect, and enjoy more! That's why my focus is always on nurturing the WHOLE child. When one aspect of development is “off,” the entire family can struggle.
PREPARE
Children crave predictability and clear boundaries. It reduces anxiety and stress, which helps their brain operate and retain more information! We can help kids feel more confident in new situations by preparing in advance.
Role play meeting a new friend, asking for help, wanting to play something different, respectfully disagreeing, etc.
Practice opening and closing backpacks, lunchboxes, and snacks
Read some books
GRADUALLY ADJUST ROUTINES
A tired kid has difficulty learning and regulating emotions. Start shifting summer bedtimes back to a normal schedule.
Get outside to see the sun, ideally within 30 minutes of waking up, to naturally regulate the body's hormones and circadian rhythm.
Sleep experts suggest the temperature during sleep is 65-70 degrees F and avoiding screens (blue light) two hours before bed. That's not always realistic so I wear these at night. (code sunnyseed)
These night lights and reading lights do not interfere with our body's natural melatonin production.
Recommended sleep totals: preschoolers 10-13 hours, school age kids 9-11 hours.
ACKNOWLEDGE FEELINGS
“The way parents interact with kids in their early years forms the blueprint they take with them into the world.” - Dr. Becky, Good Inside
Connection is the antidote to shame. Connection helps regulate our brains from highly emotional, primitive brains stuck in a spiral to brains that can think, process, learn, and connect with others! Connection does not mean approval about a specific behavior. It's about our relationship with the person underneath the behavior.
Child: “I don't want to go to school. I don't like my teacher."
Parent: Remind yourself: I have a good kid having a hard time. Resistance is part of the separation process. I am their safe space. Then with confidence and clarity validate their feelings: “There's something about going to school today that doesn't feel good. I believe you. I remember feeling nervous on my first day. We're going to get through it together and I know you're going to have a great day.”
SMOOTHER AFTERNOONS
School (or daycare) can be very overstimulating. Help your child regulate after a long day with this quick tip.
BACK TO SCHOOL BOOKS
Reading books together can reduce stress, anxiety, and help kids feel more prepared and confident. Teachers, I’ve got a round up of great read-aloud for your classroom as well, because we all know building a community is the key to a successful year of learning.
Shine a flashlight behind each page to reveal a hidden picture. This book follows several children through their first day of school. It’s a favorite for preparing your little one!
Everyone is nervous, even the teacher!
Discover a school where all young children have a place, have a space, and are loved and appreciated. An important book about diversity and inclusion for young children.
Llama Llama wants summer to go on forever! He’s anxious about his first day back at school but maybe going back to school will be fun after all!
Mae’s thoughts spiral and her anxiety builds as she walks to school. But then she makes a new friend and learns they can conquer their fears together.
We adore this classic! To help ease Chester's fears, Mrs. Raccoon shares a family secret called the Kissing Hand to give him the reassurance of her love any time his world feels a little scary.
Lena is excited to start kindergarten, but her shoes are nervous. She doesn’t want to miss out on her first day How can she convince them to be brave?
There are many reasons to feel different. It's not easy to take those first steps into a place where nobody really knows you yet, but somehow you do it.
This write-in-book designed for ages 3-5 is full of activities to help kids prepare for starting school.
Add stickers to each page to learn about what they can expect when they start school. Ideal for kindergarten.
Daniel’s excited to go to school, but he’s not happy that his dad can’t stay at school with him. He learns that “grown-ups come back” and has lots of fun with his teacher and classmates.
Little Blue Truck is excited to see all the animals lined up in the school bus’s many windows. When somebody misses the bus, it’s up to Blue to get his friend to school on time.
A comforting, cheerful read that demystifies the school day for preschoolers and kindergarteners. Great for helping littles understand the sequence of events.
READ ALOUD BOOKS FOR ELEMENTARY CLASSROOMS & FAMILIES
BOOKS ABOUT GROWTH MINDSET
Learn all about the incredible benefits of fostering a GROWTH MINDSET.
BACK TO SCHOOL FAVORITES
I bought this for M four years ago and it still looks great. It has compartments for everything and easy zippers.
Flexible, wide toe-box for optimal foot development, easy to put on the correct food with a clever tiger to match, and super durable. I’ve passed these down from kid to kid. We have their sneakers, high-tops (for winter), sandals, and Mary Janes. Truly love them.
You can print a free sizing guide.
Most of my kids’ clothes are from Cat & Jack at Target because they are affordable and OEKO-TEX 100 certified which means they are tested to be free from harmful chemicals. It’s the next best thing to organic!
LUNCHES & SNACKS
The cleanest, nutrient dense snack made from 100% gras fed beef. The girls love the summer sausage flavor, I’m a fan of original.
Planet Box is my top choice - easy to open and clean, and free from lead, plastic, PVC. I suggest the carry bag as well for a perfect fit.
Gut health impacts brain health and immunity. Support your kiddos with the most effective prebiotic + probiotic + fiber blend. My kids mix it with a little apple sauce or yogurt. Consume within 30 min. and experience the incredible benefits. I take the adult version.
I have searched for years and this is the ONLY kids water bottle I have found that is free from lead and does not have a plastic straw! It has a silicone flip up straw for easy sipping.
GLACIER WATER BOTTLE
Ditch the plastic and switch to a much safer option like stainless steel!
Organic, no sugar added, delicious vitamins. I like that these do not contain synthetic folic acid or ascorbic acid.
THRIVE MARKET is my favorite place to shop for healthy food and cleaning supplies at wholesale discount prices. You can easily create a favorites list to make ordering a breeze and it gets delivered right to my door in a couple of days (free). We’ve been members since 2016. Membership is about $5 a month (you can cancel anytime) and this cost also helps support a family in need. Teachers, military, and first responders get free membership. Check out some of our favorite lunch snacks below.
As a classroom teacher, I have seen the direct impact food has on a child’s learning and behavior. That is why we’ve prioritized whole, nutrient-rich foods and limited (or avoided) processed foods, sugar, artificial colors, and gluten. We do not have perfect diets — we aim for 90/10 or 80/20, but when it comes to school and learning, I take their lunches seriously. It feel it is my responsibility to provide foods that will help them be successful!
Pictured below
raw cheese
cream cheese and wild salmon on Canyon Bakehouse GF toast
peppers, cucumbers, pickles, olives
carrots + hummus
raw cashews + macadamian nuts (unless you’re at a nut free school)
fruit
roasted turkey (I’m not generally a fan of lunch meat because of the quality and all of the filler ingredients, but Trader Joe’s only contains one ingredient - organic turkey)
one treat - perfect bar, Hu cookie, dark chocolate, or Simple Mills cookie
organic, unflavored greek yogurt with fresh berries, nut butter, chia seeds, and hemp seeds
These lunch boxes are from Planet Box. Stainless steel and free from lead, PVC, harmful chemicals, and plastic. Ours are 3+ years old and initially used for adventure days. My kindergartner used it every day last year, but it was quite large. I would not suggest this for younger kiddos. It fits perfect inside the Planet Box Carry Bag.
CELEBRATING THE TRANSITION: BACK TO SCHOOL
Transitions and time can be especially tricky for little ones to comprehend, but I’ve found creating family traditions around big transitional moments helps immensely, while also creating lasting family memories. Here are some ideas:
Ice cream on the last day of summer
Donuts on the last day of summer
Pizza at the pool
Spa day at home - paint nails
Milkshakes and memories
Shaving cream fight outside in your bathing suit
Popsicle party with friends
Decorated breakfast table on the first day of school
I really enjoy decorating our table for important occasions and holidays and my kids have already expressed their excitement and appreciation for our special breakfast days! I store these decorations with seasonal books in a plastic storage bin that we keep in our garage, which helps cut down on spending and waste. Buy once, use for years and years!
ORGANIZING SCHOOL KEEPSAKES
