First things first, look at little me on my first day of JK! I still have that dress, which Stella (and hopefully Chloe too) wore on her first day of Grade 1.

But I digress, as back-to-school season approaches, I've been getting our gear ready, and I wanted to share some of our favourite items that have really stood the test of time—or that we've recently discovered and loved.

Backpacks

Photo Credit: State Bags

We’ve tried both Pottery Barn Kids  and State Bags, and I can confidently say they’re both amazing. Our Pottery Barn Kids backpack has been through my niece and both my girls, and it’s still in fantastic shape. Plus, I love that it’s machine washable, making it super easy to keep clean.

On the other hand, our State Bag is a newer addition, and even after a year, it looks brand new. While the material I chose isn’t machine washable, it’s easy to wipe down with a damp cloth. A cool feature of the State Bag is that it matches my daughter’s carry-on, and the backpack can attach to it, which is great for travel. They also offer fun charms that attach to the straps, which my kids love.

My Top PBK & State Picks

 

Lunchboxes

Photo Credit: Planet box

Planetbox has been our go-to for lunchboxes, and we’re huge fans. They’re machine washable, easy for the kids to use, and made of stainless steel inside and out. I even found them at Costco with the bag included! 

I buy most of the accessories from a site called Cute Kid Stuff because shipping from the Planetbox site to Canada can get pricey. The accessories are all pretty handy, and the magnetic utensils that stick to the inside of the box are a great touch. Planetbox also has swappable decorative magnets that are also a hit (just don’t put those in the dishwasher!).

We’ve also used Yumbox before. They’re great for road trips or when the kids just need a snack, but I find them a bit small for a full lunch. The Yumbox is made of plastic, which isn’t my favourite, and it’s only top-shelf dishwasher safe. We mainly use it when packing hot lunches in a thermos and just need a snack. I’ve heard they now make stainless steel options, which I’m curious to check out. The Yumbox comes in fun colours and has different tray inserts that my kids enjoy. 

My Top Lunch Box Picks

 

Water Bottles

Photo Credit: Yeti


I know everyone has their favourite water bottles, but after trying a few, Yeti  is hands down our favourite. My kids have had theirs since preschool, and they’ve been through a lot—banged up, thrown around, and dropped—and they still haven’t leaked. They’ve held up so well, and I’ve even upgraded Stella to a larger size now that she’s older. The little ones still have their smaller bottles.

If I were to try a new bottle, I’d consider looking at Hydro Flask because I’ve heard great things, but we haven’t tried them yet. My kids also love decorating their bottles with stickers. Before school starts, we make a fun activity out of washing off the old stickers and having a water bottle decorating party.

My Top Water Bottle Picks

 

Thermoses

Photo Credit: Carters OshKosh

We have thermoses from Pottery Barn Kids, Thermos, and Skip Hop, and they all work great. I don’t have a strong preference for any of them—they all do the job well.

My Top Thermos Picks

 

Accessories

Photo Credit: Fluf

I like to add a few fun accessories to the lunch boxes, like ice packs (we use the Planetbox ones), fruit skewers, and lunch notes. My kids love getting a cute note or joke in their lunchbox. I also have some fruit cutters for those days when I’m feeling a bit more Pinterest-y. We also love Fluff’s  reusable snack bags—they’re perfect for everything from popcorn to pretzels and even fruit.

For labelling, I've been using Mabels Labels for many years and love that they stay on in the wash.

My Top Accessory Picks

 

Cute StationaryPhoto Credit: Indigo
 

Finally, I always include a few cute stationery items like markers or erasers that my daughter gets excited about. It’s a small touch, but it makes back-to-school season a little more special. Indigo has some great options that are worth checking out! 

Cute Stationary Finds

 

What are your back-to-school must-haves?