School Supplies: Tips for Parents of Elementary Students

Buying school supplies is expensive, and it can be frustrating trying to locate all the items on the list supplied by your child's teacher. Sometimes the teacher's advice can be very valuable, and other times it seems the teacher has asked for more supplies than your child could possibly use in two school years. This fall will make the eighth time we've sent at least one child back to school, and also the eighth time we've dealt with back to school as parents of at least one special needs child whose school supply needs may not be the same as those of his classmates.

One of the things we've  found the most helpful is to look at the school supply list before leaving for the store, and to think about how each item on the list will be used. If I know it will be used often, I make that item a priority and I think of where I can get the best quality for the best price. If I doubt my child will use the item, or I think another item will better serve his needs, I plan to speak to the teacher or the aide about a substitution.

Some items on the list of school supplies seem excessive. Why does a child who has not yet learned to print need a multi-pack of ballpoint pens? Children who have not mastered cursive writing should be using pencils for all their schoolwork. Does it make sense to have first graders buy a huge assortment of folders, binders and large exercise books? Does it make sense for any student to buy a lot of exercise books if the teachers rely almost completely on photocopied sheets?

Unfortunately, some teachers are more ambitious with their school supply lists than they ought to be. Some teachers collect up all the school supplies on the first day of school, and distribute them as needed. What happens to supplies that your child turned in at the beginning of the school year, and that never got used? If the teacher did not have students identify their supplies before collecting them, chances are you'll never see them again.

If the quantity for any item seems to be too large, hold some of the supplies back at home. This allows your child supplies for home use in case they are forgotten at school when an important assignment is due, and it allows you to maintain control over extra supplies for use later in the school year.

For more tips on buying school supplies, see "10 Back to School Essentials for Elementary Students."

Credit: ausbar (morguefile.com)