At the start of each school year, my favorite thing to do was assemble my supplies in boxes, pouches, and binders. Something about seeing all my tools organized and in their proper place made me feel prepared and calm. On Saturday, Debs came home from the local grocery store with bags of school supplies. She started talking excitedly about the “old days” when we would get all of our school supplies. As she rambled about great prices and school supplies, she started pulling out item after item and tossing them about the kitchen table.  With each item she’d toss, a short explanation would follow.

Toss: Eraser  Explanation: These are the best kinds… they don’t leave smudges.

Toss: Taffy     Explanation: Afternoon Pick-Me-Up

Toss: Glue Stick    Explanation: Better to have your own. Classroom ones get yucky.

Well, considering none of us are in school anymore we decided that these school supplies would become a blog post! So today we’re highlighting a few tips for making a back-to-school box that will keep your kid smiling.

Remember, fun pencils are a must! I always got jealous when the girl next to me pulled out a glittery pencil and all I had was plain yellow. Not saying yellow is bad, but sometimes you just got to outshine the person sitting next to you! Also, please pack some chapstick for your child. Those crazy chapped lips that extend from nostril to chin are unacceptable. Teach them to not lick and to simply apply.

It’s always good to remember that the lid of any back-to-school box can be functional. All you need is some double-stick tape. Lastly, attach a handwritten note, list of advice, or picture in your students tool kit. This will mean more to them than anything else, even if they don’t want to admit it. Debs wrote a personal note or drew a picture for me almost every day of the school year. It always made me feel close to home.