If the malls would have us believe it, we’ve completely missed the boat on back-to-school shopping, and we’re bordering on too late for Halloween. However, Costco warehouses are well stocked for Christmas right about now.
However, if you’re anything like me, you might just be getting around to emptying backpcks and lunchboxes that came home around the end of June, and you may need to do a little shopping between now and Labour Day.
Herewith, some of the back to school must have products, and where to find them….
Backpacks
I believe that for backpacks, the key tip for shopping success if to let your kid help pick it out. If they don’t like the bag, they’re apt to ditch it lose it early in the school year. It’s also important that the knapsack is the right size for your child, and has adjustable straps so that he or she can carry it comfortably. Here are a few we’re looking at this year.
West 49 is the only acceptable shopping destination for the boys in my household, and you can now order their stuff online. I love this Dakine Pivot Backpack for the tween in my life, and your skater boy will love it too. It’s got just enough pockets to help him stay organized, and the bright colour will mean he’ll always be able to find it in a pile (and you’ll always be able to spot him in the schoolyard!)
Dakine Pivot Backpack, $29.99 at West 49
Pottery Barn and Pottery Barn Kids are a couple of my favourite places to wile away an afternoon, and now the big sister site, Pottery Barn Teen delivers to Canada. Check out this beautiful and colourful knapsack that will hold everything from a laptop to sneakers.
Bright Vines Backpack, $46.77 at Pottery Barn Teen
You just can’t go wrong with the backpacks from Gap; not only do they have mix-and-match lunch bags that clip right on, but they’re also fashionable and trendy, and right now they’re on sale half-price.
Printed junior backpack, $29.95 at Gap
Lunch Containers
Try as I might, there comes a time in the life of each of my child’s lunchbags where I have to concede that although the bag still looks sturdy and viable, the smell makes it landfill bound.
If you’re sending a young kid off to school this year, why not make lunch plans a little friendlier with one of these PVC-free neoprene lunch bags from one of my favourite websites, Lavish and Lime,
Frog lunch bag, $33 at Lavish and Lime
To fill that lunchbag, take a look at SteelTainer. They’ve got great leak-proof containers with interior stainless steel trays that minimize food contact with plastic. The products reduce waste and are big enough to pack sandwiches and snacks.
Sandwich container, $14.95 at Steeltainer
If you plan to send your child off with yogurt or fresh fruit, you’ll want to keep that cold until they get to it. Take a look at these fun and colourful ice packs from Kids Konserve, available at Lavish and Lime.
Green squiggle ice pack, $11.50 at Kids Konserve
So don’t be afraid to open those old backpacks and lunch boxes…what’s the worst you can find? On second thought….safer to just start shopping!
adorable stuff Jen – thanks.
I buy my back packs at Lands End and you can’t kill them – my grade 12 is on her second knapsack only since SK!!!!!!!!!
I got the cutest retro tin lunch box at Old Navy and it was on sale for $4.99! The Steeltainer I had inside was worth a lot more 🙂 Cute stuff!
I am definitely going to get the steeltainer and Kids Konserve! Great ideas and my kids are required to have “litterless lunches”.