What Your Kindergartener Really Needs for School

If your first-born is starting school, your head may be spinning with all the back-to-school promotions coming at you every time you turn on the radio or surf your favourite websites. No, your newly-minted kindergartener doesn't need a external hard drive or even a pencil case, but what they do need may surprise you. Here's what veteran moms and teachers tell us are the only things you really need before your little one heads to class (sniff).

While, yes, they're still so wee, your kiddo does need to graduate from the mini-backpack they wore to daycare. The teacher will be sending home calendar sheets, newsletters and permission forms in letter-sized folders. Make a production of shopping for a new big-kid backpack together, and be sure it can hold a duotang, lunch bag, water bottle and change of clothes. See our favourite backpacks for 2016 here)

School hallways and playgrounds can be like black holes for everything from water bottles to rain coats. One of our kids' misplaced two pairs of orange snow pants in one winter. It's well worth the money to order custom labels that go on shoes, lunch containers, clothing and backpacks.

We hate to mention the ‘L' word, but these nuisance pests could be jumping around the cloakroom this fall and winter. Apparently lice are repelled by strong-smelling essential oils, so we like to spritz our kids' heads before school with this leave-in conditioner scented with citronella, eucalyptus, rosemary and lemongrass.

While it may be fun to have a cute one (and tempting to get that chic bento system), keep in mind that lunch bags are among the items most likely to go missing at school. You might be better off buying two affordable models for school mornings when one is MIA or just too caked in banana to face.

Take our word for it. Your kids—and their teacher—will be glad you bought lunch containers they can manage on their own. Tip: Have a trial run before school starts.

Chances are good the water fountain is not going to be right outside the kindergarten door. Get a couple of sturdy water bottles in a little-kid appropriate size.

Of course you know he'll need a toque (or five) come winter, but a ball cap or sunhat is good to have for recess and classroom outings while the weather is sunny.

We know you're going to apply it at home before you leave for school, but kindergarteners need their own bottle to reapply later in the day.

Accidents happen and there's nothing kindergarten teachers want to stress more than just how important it is that you send a full set of extra clothes (including socks for puddle-related incidents), and then keep it replenished and updated seasonally as needed.

While we're talking extra clothes, socks are a hot commodity in the kindie classroom. We like this merino wool-blend kind to warm cold toes after they've gotten wet.

No really. A strategically placed key chain makes doing up their jacket zipper so much easier. The teacher will thank you.

When temperatures cool, it's much easier for your child to pull on a neck warmer than to wrap a scarf around their neck. Plus, there's no risk of it catching on playground equipment. We love this one by mimiTENS with a smart tapered bottom that stays tucked in and keeps the chill out without added bulk.

You were probably asked for it at registration time, but if you haven't shared your child's updated vaccine record, you'll want to track that down before the first day of school or get on the phone with the doctor's office to get a copy.