My daughter starts kindergarten next week.
Apparently, kindergarten requires approximately 47 different things.
Crayons. Glue sticks. Folders. Markers. Tissues. Wipes. Ziploc bags. Headphones. A water bottle. A lunchbox. A backpack.
And by the time I finished looking at the school supply list, I was starting to wonder if my five-year-old needed an entire office.
But here’s the thing about our family: we’re pretty minimal when it comes to stuff and we believe in quality over quantity.
We travel a lot, and over the years we’ve learned that we are much happier when we travel light. I don’t want to carry five bags “just in case.” I don’t want to bring something for every possible scenario. And I definitely don’t want to buy something just because the internet says every family needs it.
We’ve carried that mindset into everyday life, too.
We’re not a completely minimalist family—we have two little girls, so let’s be realistic—but we try to be intentional about what actually earns a place in our home, our suitcase and now, apparently, our kindergarten classroom.
So when I saw that school supply list, I decided not to panic-buy everything on it.
Our summer has been busy with travel, outdoor adventures and family time, so when we finally had a quiet weekend at home, we decided to make school shopping a little more intentional. Instead of rushing through a checklist between activities, I took my daughter out for a slow shopping day. I wanted her to actually enjoy choosing her things and feel like she was part of getting ready for this huge new chapter.
I gave her the freedom to choose some of her own things, with a few simple rules: it needed to be practical, something she could manage herself, and something we wouldn’t regret buying a month into kindergarten.
She had opinions. A lot of opinions.
And I let her have them.
She picked out her backpack, helped choose her lunchbox and was very proud of the things she brought home.
And honestly? Watching her get excited about kindergarten made some of my own nerves disappear.
So this isn’t a list of 47 things you absolutely must buy.
It’s what we’re actually buying, what I think is worth spending a little more on, and what we’re happily leaving at the store.
First Things First: Your School’s List Wins
Before you start filling up an Amazon cart, check your child’s actual school or teacher supply list.
Kindergarten requirements can be very different from one school to another. Some schools request specific brands or quantities, while others provide certain supplies themselves. And in many classrooms, things like crayons, glue, tissues and markers become shared classroom supplies.
So my biggest piece of advice is pretty boring:
Follow your school’s list before following any kindergarten “must-have” list on the internet—including mine.
You don’t need the fanciest version of everything.
You just need what your child actually needs.
The 3 Things We Decided Were Worth Spending Money On
For the things my daughter is going to use almost every day, I was willing to spend a little more.
But I had a pretty simple test:
Can she use it herself? Is it easy to clean? Will it hold up? And will it make our mornings easier?
If the answer was no, we probably didn’t need it.
1. A Backpack That Doesn’t Become a Suitcase
My first instinct was to buy a bigger backpack.
Because kids need a lot of stuff, right?
But then I remembered how much I dislike carrying a giant bag around when we travel. Why would I want my kindergartener doing the same thing?
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends keeping children’s backpacks as light as possible and carrying only what’s necessary.
So we looked for something lightweight, appropriately sized and easy for a five-year-old to actually use.
Our Pick: Bentgo Kids Print Durable & Water-Resistant Backpack
I liked the size, all the fun patterns, the light weight and easy clean fabric.
But honestly, the biggest selling point for me was that my daughter got to pick it.
She was very excited about that backpack.
Another option: Simple Modern Kids Backpack 12Ls a classic choice if durability is your biggest priority.
My advice? Don’t buy the biggest backpack you can find just because it has more pockets.
Buy one that fits what your school actually requires.
And before the first day, let your child practice opening the zippers and getting everything in and out.
Because independence is more important than having another pocket.
2. A Lunchbox Your Child Can Actually Open
This one is probably going to get a lot of use.
And my biggest question wasn’t:
“How many compartments does it have?”
It was:
“Can my daughter open it herself?”
Because if she needs an adult every time she wants to get into her lunch, we’ve got a problem. We wanted something that was easy to open, easy to clean, durable and not ridiculously bulky.
A non-negotiable criteria was that it was made of stainless steel.
Our Pick: Bentgo Kids Prints Stainless Steel Leak-Resistant 3-Compartment Lunch Box
We actually opted for the stainless steel version to keep her daily routine entirely plastic-free. It is a bit more of an investment upfront, but it’s incredibly easy to clean, won’t hold onto odors, and completely aligns with our ‘buy fewer, better things’ philosophy.
But here’s what I’m actually doing before school starts:
We’re practicing with it.
Open it.
Close it.
Put it in the backpack.
Take it back out.
Open it again.
It sounds silly until your child comes home hungry because they couldn’t figure out their lunchbox.
So I’m much more interested in whether my child can use it, is it safe for her than whether it has 15 compartments and looks amazing in an Instagram photo.
3. A Water Bottle That Won’t Make You Crazy
I’m keeping this one simple.
My kindergartener needs a water bottle.
She does not need a $40 adult tumbler that weighs as much as her lunch.
I’m looking for four things:
Lightweight. Easy to use. Easy to clean. Resistant to spills.
That’s pretty much it.
Our Pick: Simple Modern Insulated Stainless Steel Toddler Water Bottle
I liked the kid-friendly design and it is made of sturdy stainless steel that can survive being dropped on the playground. Plus, both the bottle and lid can go straight into the dishwasher at night, saving me from hand-washing one more tiny straw component before bedtime
Another option: The Thermos Funtainer stainless steal 12 oz. is another popular choice and is insulated for keeping water cold throughout the school day.
And again, we’re practicing.
Because apparently one of my jobs before kindergarten is teaching my child how to open a water bottle.
Who knew?
The School Supplies I Refused to Overthink
Then there are the things that really don’t need a lot of research.
Crayons
If the teacher says Crayola, we’re buying Crayola.
I’m not spending an hour trying to find the “best” kindergarten crayon.
Glue Sticks
Buy the quantity the teacher asks for.
Basic Elmer’s disappearing purple glue sticks are good enough for us.
Kindergarten is apparently where glue sticks go to disappear anyway.
Folders
Follow the colors and type your school requests.
No need to make this complicated.
Tissues, Wipes & Ziploc Bags
These might not be exciting, but classrooms go through a lot of shared supplies.
We’ll buy the requested sizes and quantities and call it a day.
There are bigger things to worry about.
Like what my child is going to eat for dinner for the next 180 nights.
What We’re Skipping
This is probably my favorite part.
Because back-to-school shopping can make you feel like your kindergartener needs an entire organizational system.
We’re not doing that.
❌ Viral Amazon School Gadgets
If the teacher didn’t request it and my child doesn’t actually need it, I’m probably not buying it.
A thousand reviews don’t automatically mean my family needs something.
❌ Elaborate Stationery Systems
My daughter needs school supplies.
She does not need a miniature office.
❌ Oversized Backpacks
We’re trying to teach our kids that they don’t have to carry everything with them.
That applies at school, too.
❌ Complicated Lunch Systems
If there are six pieces to wash, four pieces to remember and two pieces that somehow disappear every time we leave the house…
I’m probably going to pass.
Simple wins in our house.
The Part I Didn’t Expect to Matter So Much
The thing I’m happiest we bought wasn’t actually a school supply.
It was her excitement.
I didn’t want kindergarten preparation to become another thing on my mom to-do list.
I wanted her to feel like she was getting ready for something exciting.
So I let her choose.
She picked the colors.
She picked the designs.
She had opinions.
A lot of opinions.
And I let her.
I didn’t expect picking out a backpack and lunchbox to make such a difference, but she was so proud of the things she chose.
It made kindergarten feel a little more real—and a lot less scary for both of us.
And honestly, I think I needed that as much as she did.
The Takeaway: Buy Less, Choose Better
This is really the same approach we use when we travel.
Bring what you need. Choose things that actually earn their space. Don’t prepare for every possible scenario.
I realized that the same idea works for school.
Buy what the school requires. Invest in what your child uses every day. Skip the clutter.
I’m writing this before my daughter actually starts kindergarten, so I’m sure I’ll learn a few things the hard way.
Maybe I’ll come back in a month and tell you the backpack was terrible.
Maybe the lunchbox will be the best thing I’ve ever bought.
Maybe she’ll lose the water bottle on day three.
Honestly, all three are possible.
But that’s part of why I wanted to write this now.
I’m figuring it out right along with you.
And if there’s one thing I hope she takes into kindergarten, it’s not a perfectly packed backpack.
It’s the feeling that she can do things for herself.
Open her lunch.
Carry her backpack.
Ask for help when she needs it.
Make a new friend.
Walk into a new room even when she’s nervous.
Those things matter a whole lot more than whether I bought the “right” pencil pouch.
So here we are.
The backpack is packed.
The lunchbox is ready.
The water bottle has been tested approximately 37 times.
And my baby is starting kindergarten.
We’re officially entering a new era:
Less toddler gear. More school routines. And somehow, an even bigger pile of laundry.
Wish us luck.
And if you’re sending a little one off to kindergarten too, give yourself permission to keep it simple.
You don’t need to buy everything.
You just need to figure out what works for your family.
TheModernGetaway 
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