I canβt wait for the new school year to start. Working from home (see my confessions of a stay-and-work-at-home mum here) the school holidays have been rather a juggle, what with BB off school for six whole weeks and limited childcare for Little B.
Things will be so much easier when weβve got our normal routine back. Weβve got the new shoes, the next-size-up uniform and the new winter coat, and everything is labelled and ready for the new school year.
This got me thinking, though, that after preparing BB for starting school last year there are also some back to school essentials you didnβt know you need.
For example, starting school or going back to school after the summer holidays can be a daunting prospect for little ones, so you could consider getting them a back to school necklace or bracelet like a https://serp.co/best/back-to-school-necklace/ to remind them you’re always thinking about them.
There are also a few other essentials I didn’t know I needed to help the return to school go smoothly.
Back to school essentials you didnβt know you need
1. Kidsβ vitamins. After starting school last September BB caught a string of bugs culminating in a spell in hospital after a particularly nasty cold turned into pneumonia. In a bid to avoid a repeat performance Iβm giving her a daily Haliborange Mr Men & Little Miss βstrawberry softieβ multivitamin (Β£4.99 for 30, although they’re currently on offer for Β£3.32 at Superdrug), which looksΒ – and tastes – like a strawberry flavoured sweet. With a bit of luck they will give her immune system a boost before they all start sneezing over each other and swapping snot again.
2. Head lice treatment. Famous last words and all that, but so far weβve escaped the dreaded lice. That said, the last thing you want to be doing if you discover the little critters is fannying around trying to get your hands on the necessary treatment. So weβve got Lyclearβs treatment shampoo (Β£13.99, currently on offer for Β£9.29 in Superdrug), which promises to kill head lice and eggs in 10 minutes. Forewarned is forearmed, I say.
3. Snacks. Iβm sure they get fed plenty at school, but even so after school I feel like Iβm laying on a constant buffet until bedtime. BB gets so hungry on schoolΒ days it’s unbelievable.Β Itβs time to stock up, people.
4. A new outfit. Youβve shelled out all that hard-earned cash on their shiny new shoes and smart winter coat, why shouldnβt you arrive at the school gates in something new too? After all, you have just survived the school holidays.
5. Wine. Last but by no means least, donβt forget to stock up on the wine β or gin, or whatever your choice of tipple might be (thereβs no judging here). If, like me, the small matter of pregnancy means you canβt drink at the moment, or itβs not your thing (said no-one I know, ever), make sure youβve got something to look forward to at the end of the first day/week back. I know Iβm going to need it.
Are you looking forward to the kids going back to school?Β AreΒ there any essentialsΒ Iβve left off the list?
We were sent the Haliborange multivitamins and Lyclear head liceΒ treatment shampoo by Superdrug free of charge for the purpose of review. As always all opinions are my own and based on my own honest experience.
Linking up withβ¦
Haha, a very sensible list. Especially the wine and the nit shampoo! Also why do kids seem to think that we are an after-school buffet? Mine seem to spend three hours grazing on food when they get home from school! #thelist
BB does that too, even though they get a full on hot lunch…
Love this list and so true, I pre warned a mummy friend of mine that she will be making dinner much earlier when her little one starts school. The food is constant and now I have two!!!! I love the idea of an outfit for you very good idea and we are never with out wine in this household xxx #picknmix
We’ve never usually without wine either – can’t wait to have a proper drink, only another six months to go!
Oh I love this – vitamins are a must we seem to hit the sickness every January!! Like January isnt miserable enough! I always dread the ‘head lice’ letter you get in their school bag alerting you that head lice has been going around the class – my little one has so much hair if they get in there Im scared I will never get them out!! #thelist #picknmix
We’ve had that letter too but so far have escaped – no idea how!
Never thought of vitamins, although it makes sense. I always keep headlice treatment in the house just in case! Wine sounds about right to me too! Celebrating and commiserating (my boy’s at school *yaaaaaay*, my boy’s at school *sob*) #picknmix
Hope it goes well and isn’t too emotional!
It’s my daughter’s first year at school so this has been very helpful! The only thing I have from the list is wine so it’s a start!! #picknmix
Glad to have been of service! Wine is the most important one anyway…
Yes to all of this! Although we have a nitty gritty comb instead of the head lice treatments, it’s great for doing a once over now and then to make sure no lice have made it into the house! x #TheList
That’s a great idea – thanks for the tip!
Luckily, my kids have only had headlice once, but I was completely unprepared for it – so this is an excellent suggestion! #thelist
I’m dreading the day one of mine comes home with it – not sure how we’ve escaped so far!
I off to buy the vitamins m& headlice stuff then a new outfit and several bottles of wine ! My eldest is off to school this time and like you im counting every second !!!!!!! #TheList
It will be such a relief when term time starts!
I hadn’t throught of the vitamins – good shout! Congratulations on your pregnancy. #thelist
Thanks so much xx
Oh no I better stock up on food, my daughter is bad now and it sounds like she is going to be even worse when she starts school next week!! Can’t wait for that X #picknmix
I don’t know where BB puts the food, I really don’t…
Ahh nits..I’m not looking forward to that worry when my boy starts school next year. I love the idea of buying yourself a new outfit as a reward for surviving the holidays!xx #picknmix
You might not get nits – we haven’t, yet…
Ha ha, love the last two!
#Picknmix #TheList
We should definitely treat ourselves too!
Pants! I forget about the Nits! hahah!!
Love this post, and you’re so right! It’s more than just the new shoes and clothes, there are all the other things you have to think about to help them stay healthy – and not hungry – after they go back to school.
My Little Mister is also always hungry post school. A constant buffet until bedtime is a great description!
#TheList
I will be doing my online food shop this weekend!
Vitamins! Yes please- trying to keep germs and illnesses at bay.
It’s worth a try!
Vitamins and wine! Always on the top of my shopping list at any time of year. thanks for your post. Pen x #KCACOLS
As a teacher I can vouch for the new school year germs! A great list. I love how every mum list has wine on it #KCACOLS
Ah! Nits! I am dreading my two getting nits. My son gets far too close to everyone and has no concept of personal space, so I am sure it is just a matter of time! I have taken the ‘prevention is better than cure’ approach, and spray them both with a tea tree oil solution every morning before school/nursery. I like the smell, but apparently lice do not. Fingers crossed! Good list.
x Alice
#kcacols
The new outfit is my favourite! Any excuse! #kcacols
Love this list. I’ve already done a little online shopping for new outfits. I’m going to go out tomorrow and get some vitamins having read this, there is already a hint of a cold with my eldest and could do without it getting too bad.
#KCACOLS
A great list! Well prepared here. I have the nitty gritty comb after spending what feels like thousands on getting rid of nits grrr! I like the new outfit idea I like to give it at least a week before i rock the just fell out of bed look π #kcacols
Oh yes, I have the nit solution at the ready! We’d only just got rid of some just before the summer and with three, two with long hair, it’s a pain in the ass!!! I’m trying to have a few weeks off the wine having overindulged during the summer- but I hear you on that one too!! #KCACOLS
We love the haliborange vitamins… My daughter calls them her sweeties and thinks they’re a treat! Enjoy the quiet once they are back! Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS. Hope you come back again next Sunday
Good list – totally agree on the snacks, my daughter doesn’t stop eating from the second she walks out of the school gates until she goes to bed! #KCACOLS
This is a great list. I love the new outfit for mum idea, might have to talk to hubby about that π
#KCACOLS
I never thought of vitamins. They really are essential aren’t they! Great advice thanks I’ll remember this one #KCACOLS
Brilliant thanks for sharing! First time school gate mum here π #KCACOLS
Yeah, we’ve just dealt with a head lice invasion before school even started. Youngest’s nursery is the culprit, I expect. I’ve been wanting to get vitamins for my kids but I’m worried if they’re too tasty that they’ll try to eat too many of them. I need to get a more secure medicine cabinet. Completely agree about the need for alcohol and something new for mum. #KCACOLS
Archie starts school on Tuesday, so this is very useful for a newbie Mummy like me!! Always have wine in (if you don’t, are you even a Mum!?) but Ε΅ill stock up on the rest!! Great list! #KCACOLS
I think wine and head lice treatment just about wraps it up perfectly!:) Good friends also helps, for those evenings when being rational about how irrational children can be!:)
mainy x
My 7 month old is not quite ready for school yet! but I”d imagine you have listed the right things! I remember head lice shampoo! eugh! xx
#KCACOLS
Ha ha I love that you have justified a mummy purchase! Whoop! Thanks for linking up to #TheList huni xx
My eldest started school this week, and I’m exhausted! The wine has definitely been an essential. Might have to get the vitamins and head lice treatment too. Thanks for the tips! #KCACOLS
Yep to everything on the list, wine especially as I’m a teacher! I got a headlice are back email already today, grrr! Thanks for linking to #picknmix
yes love the idea of new outfit for the mummy… my son still has a long way to go till he starts school but this list will be handy one day. Thanks for sharing it #KCACOLS
Im probably going to jinx it here, but we’ve not had head lice YET!
We wash the boys hair with tea tree shampoo and it’s kept the little buggers away.
I’d not thought of the vitamins though. Great idea.
#kcacols
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