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This summer, my toddler attended camp for the first time, and as any mom sending her child off into the world, I was fully unprepared. The night before her first day, I frantically ran around the house looking for all the items I suddenly realized she would need for her first day away from home. I grabbed an old backpack of mine, scribbled her name on her clothes in Sharpie, and sent her on her way. Laptop Backpack With Usb Charging
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At drop-off, I saw all the other little 2-year-olds with their adorable backpacks and promised myself I’d do better by the time the school year came around with a full-blown preschool packing list.
And now, preschool is nearly here! Despite having a hand-me-down adult backpack, my daughter loved camp, and I’m so excited to now get her ready for her first day of preschool. Thankfully with camp as a practice round, I now know how to prepare my child for school and have been gathering all the necessities to make sure she has a great first day.
If you’ve got a toddler heading off to school for the first time, there are a few things they will need, plus some nice-to-haves as well. Read on for a general preschool packing list, plus links to everything I’m buying for my child’s first day of preschool.
Use the below as a helpful checklist for what you’ll likely need to pack for your little one’s first day of preschool. Of course, be sure to ask your specific school for anything else your child may need for a successful day.
Here, I’m sharing the specific items I’m purchasing ahead of my daughter’s first day of preschool. While some products are part of the packing list above, a few others—like a special first day of school outfit and photo prop and a new forehead thermometer—are extras I’m buying to be prepared for the first day and beyond.
This is a little something for an Instagramable first day of school picture. I love that this chalkboard can be used every year on the first day.
Click here for more cute first day of school picture props!
I love a matching moment, so I couldn't resist this backpack that coordinates with the lunch box linked below. This bookbag will easily fit everything she needs at preschool, including the Bentgo lunch box that fits in the bottom zippered pocket.
I can't guarantee I'll be making elaborate bento-style lunches all year, but this box is giving me some serious creativity goals. I love that it has compartments for a full meal and is far less wasteful than individual plastic bags for snacks.
This water bottle will be perfect to toss in my child's backpack for a day at school. I like that it has a cover over the straw to minimize germs because I'm sure this bottle will spend plenty of time being dropped on the ground.
Though it's dependent on their age, most kids take one nap per day while at preschool. Since our preschool doesn't provide cots, I'm purchasing this comfy (and super cute!) nap mat that comes with an attached pillow and blanket.
I've been told to label literally everything my child is taking to preschool or else things will get lost in the sea of kids. I ordered a value pack of labels and decided to only put our last name on the stickers so any leftovers can be used for our younger child in the future.
I know that kids get messy at school, and by day two, I'm sure my child will be dressed in basic bargain clothes. But at least for the first day, I'm excited to dress my kiddo up in a special outfit. I'm loving this dress and wish it came in my size.
How cute are these hair clips? While I'm sure I'll be too rushed most mornings to accessorize my child, sometimes her hair can use a little taming and these come in an easy-to-grab pack of 13 snap clips.
Kids need comfortable shoes for adventuring out of the house, and this easy-to-put-on pair will be perfect for school. And if your school requires a pair of "indoor shoes," this option works great because of their non-skid soles.
Speaking of basic clothes, I'll be putting a backup outfit in my child's backpack, and this pack of biker shorts will be great to have when needed.
These tops are another good basic to have as an extra outfit or for preschool days when crafts will be involved.
Earlier in my parenting experience, I purchased adorable socks with different colors and patterns. Two years later, I realize that was a big mistake because every morning, I'm running around looking for matching socks (rarely do I end up finding any). I finally caved and now have this huge set of basic socks to make mornings just a tiny bit easier.
Accidents happen at preschool. Even if your child is potty trained, it's a good idea to send them off with an extra pair (or two) of underwear in case they're needed during the day.
And speaking of accidents and general messiness, a reusable wet bag like this one is a must-have backpack item so teachers have somewhere waterproof to throw wet, soiled, or stained clothing when your little inevitably needs to change outfits.
If your child isn't yet potty trained, be sure to check if your school provides diapers and wipes for changes. If not, be sure to send them with enough of each. I especially love Hello Bello because they sell budget-friendly bundle packs like this one.
Since it's basically still summer when many kids start school, extra sunscreen in their bags is a must. We'll definitely apply it before my kid starts the day, but it's always good to have extra in case there's some afternoon outdoor play.
In addition to diaper-change wipes, it's always helpful to throw a pack of Boogie Wipes or water wipes in your child's bag for easy clean-ups during the school day.
As all parents know, kids get sick, so having this forehead thermometer on-hand at home will ensure I can check her temperature quickly and easily if she comes home feeling sniffly.
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