Back-to-School Amazon Finds for Parents of Littles

It’s that time again—back-to-school season is here, and if you're anything like me, you're trying to juggle excitement, nerves, and 16 different checklists.

Whether it’s preschool or early elementary, sending littles off to school (or back to it) can feel like organizing a small expedition. But after trial and error, I’ve finally found some Amazon favorites that genuinely help streamline mornings, lunches, and everything in between.

Here’s what’s in my cart (or already in our daily routine) and why I think they’re worth every penny.

1. Leak-Proof, Kid-Friendly Lunch Gear

Goodbye soggy lunches, hello easy cleanup. These are our go-tos for packing balanced lunches without the mess:

• ✅ OmieBox Bento Box: My favorite lunch box! Keeps hot and cold foods separate—perfect for sending leftovers with the boys (the easiest kind of lunch, if you ask me).

• ✅ Bentgo Kids Lunch Box: Sturdy, leak-proof, and perfectly portioned for little appetites

• ✅ Reusable Snack Bags: Eco-friendly, easy to open—perfect for days the boys eat school lunch and just need a snack.

2. School-Day Essentials

We always include a mini set of “just-in-case” items:

• ✅ Travel-size hand sanitizer – Clips on like a charm—and the kids actually love using them!

• ✅ Mini tissue packs – Perfect for runny nose days or allergy season—easy to toss in their backpack and go.

• ✅ Label maker – Absolutely love this for labeling everything—lunch boxes, water bottles, all the school things!

3. Back-to-School Basics You’ll Be Reordering Anyway

I like to stock up on these for homework, crafts, and projects—because we always end up needing them:

• ✅ Pencils: Easy to grip and hard to break

• ✅ Folders With Pockets: Trust me—you’ll need a place for all the papers they bring home. It piles up fast!

• ✅ Crayola Washable Markers: A preschool staple

• ✅ Blunt-tip scissors: Safe, and surprisingly durable

4. Outfit Organizers = Morning Sanity

If mornings feel chaotic (they always do), this one’s a game changer:
I use a 5-shelf hanging closet organizer and prep full outfits for the week—socks, undies, the works.

The kids just grab the day’s outfit, and we’ve cut dressing time in half.

5. A Calm Corner for After-School Reset

We set up a simple “calm-down” zone at home for those after-school meltdowns. It’s been such a helpful way to decompress after overstimulation at school.

Here’s what’s in ours:

• ✅ Bean bag

• ✅ Fidget spinners and Sensory Mazes

• ✅ Coloring book or coloring pages

• ✅ Visual timer to give them a sense of how long they’ll rest before snack/play/homework

💡 Final Thoughts: Keep It Simple, Keep It Doable

Back-to-school doesn’t have to mean stress overload. With a few tried-and-true Amazon finds and a little prep, it’s possible to start the year off semi-organized—and maybe even excited.

If you're in the thick of school prep, I hope this list gives you a few shortcuts (and a moment to breathe). You’ve got this. 💛