Year after year, we tell ourselves we’ll be more prepared and beat the back-to-school rush of finding new uniform, stationery, shoes and whatever else we might have forgotten about – but this rarely happens (we’re too busy enjoying the summer holidays!). So, this year we want to lend a hand in beating the stress of back-to-school shopping with a list of our favourite essentials, tips and tricks for the new term.

It's not only the buying of new uniform that can cause a panic – but making sure everything is labelled, too! And not only that, but we also want labels that aren’t itchy, don’t peel or instantly rub off. This is where Stamptastic come in – they have made a stamp to personalise with your kid’s name. Simply stamp onto the wash label and never worry about losing that jumper or cardigan again!

New term = new pencil case! We remember showing off a new pencil case to friends was a highlight of going back to school! Or, if you have an eatsleepdoodle reusable pencil case, simply pop it in the machine, the ink from last term will completely disappear and it’s ready for a new design! Our colour-in pencil cases are sure to be loved by all the kids at school. Cotton canvas with a neoprene lining and complete with a set of 10 wash-out fabric pens, they’re sturdy and durable and designed to be coloured in and personalised again and again! In five fun and educational designs; butterflies, space explorer, fairytales & legends, dinosaurs and working wheels – there’s something for everyone.

To go into that pencil case – funky rubbers and colouring pens are a must! We found these fun erasers featuring cute animals and exciting colours from Rex London, which will fit perfectly in our colour-in pencil cases! And of course, we can’t forget colouring pens. Our washable mess free pens fit neatly inside all eatsleepdoodle pencil cases and are great for school work, homework or any activity (and you don’t have to worry about any ink on school clothes – because it disappears from any washable fabric!). 

One top tip that we’ve read about recently is to try and re-establish a routine before the first day of school. Over the summer holidays, without the same structure to our days, standards can slip! So while this may seem a simple idea, it could make all the difference, helping little ones mentally prepare, focus and not feel too daunted on the first day the new term. You could also ask your kids to get their school bag and uniform ready the night before, to eliminate the pre-school-morning-rush - which we could all do without!

And if the old school bag didn’t quite make it from last term, then perhaps our world map backpack can come to your rescue! It’s a fantastic creative bag for school – with draw string handles for easy use. It comes complete with a set of 10 wash-out fabric pens and the world map design wraps around the bag like a globe – for extra colouring fun. It’s great as a general school bag, for sports kit or for a day trips out! For kids with books, laptops or tablets to take with them to school – our tote bags are the perfect size and shape. In three fun designs – pond life, world map and butterfly. These tote bags are perfect for on-the-go. They’re made from a durable cotton canvas and have two inside pockets – so they’re sturdy and super practical!

Have you thought about lunch boxes and water bottles?  If they slipped your mind, we’ve found some very lovely lunch essentials to help you out! These fun lunch coolers by Little Perfection UK on Etsy – are a great reusable lunch bag with handles (making them easy to carry) and are perfect for school lunches. We all know a reusable water bottle is important for school and we fell in love with this Frugi x The National Trust Splish Splash bottle – absolutely perfect for kids to take with them wherever they go (and of course, we love the gardening theme!). 

If you’re home-schooling or looking for new classroom activities – our world flags tablecloth is ideal! Featuring 193 flags of the United Nations countries, this tablecloth makes an excellent geography lesson activity and is great for learning at home. It’s perfect as a creative colouring activity, too! With learning resources available on our website, there’s so much to discover with this international flags tablecloth – kids will love the combination of an activity that’s fun, creative and educational!

Hopefully we’ve given you some helpful ideas and you can beat the stress of back-to-school-shopping!

And don’t forget to share your colouring creations with us on social media by using #eatsleepdoodle – we always love to see what you’re up to! You can also tag us on Instagram (@eatsleepdoodle_), Facebook (@eatsleepdoodlehq) and Twitter (@eatsleepdoodle_).