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My family made the personal choice to send our child back to school in August of 2020. Today I’m sharing my list of must have school supplies for 2021!
If you are sending a kid back to school in 2021, or are thinking about it, I totally understand what you are feeling.
My kid went back to school before most school districts had even picked an in person start date.
My hope is that this list of must have school supplies for 2021 will help you to feel less overwhelmed about some things, including kids face masks.
I’m not a medical profession. I’m just a mom with an elementary school aged child who wants to help other moms during this crazy time.
I want to help you by taking away fear of the unknown.
In Person School During 2020
Like I mentioned, my daughter is elementary school aged. Her young age affected our decision to send her back to in person school in August of 2020.
During the first week of school, her teacher shared a number observations about the children and how they responded to the changes at school.
- The children eagerly participated in the structured activities.
- The kids didn’t notice the changes to the classroom because it was a new to them classroom.
- After spring and summer at home, the children were more then happy to follow their teacher’s directions and instructions.
This means when a teachers asks kids to put on their masks and wash hands at school they do it.
For the same reason they clean up the toys at school, stay in their chairs at the table for lunch and say please.
They do it for two reasons, one because the teacher says to and two because all of their friends are doing it too.
Now, don’t try to ask them to do these things at home! This trick only works at school.
Teachers aren’t Mom so kids behave better for them!
My daughter puts her mask on no problem at school but if I were to ask her to at home… well you can guess how that would go!
Masks in School
If you child hasn’t gone back to school yet you probably have a lot of questions about kids wearing masks at school, in the classroom and outside.
Like I said above, my elementary school aged child and all the children in her class really wear masks in school during class.
No, it hasn’t impacted her learning.
Yes, they take them off on the playground.
And yes, they take them off at lunch.
Must Have School Supplies for 2021 and Beyond
The most important school supplies you buy in 2021 – the must have school supplies for 2021 – are mostly items we NEVER would have bought before.
The really good news is they are not expensive.
And if you plan accordingly you’ll have plenty of time to order the new must have school supplies your child will need this year.
1. Face Masks – Lots of Face Masks
Please know that you child is going to to loose a face mask or two. And it will probably be a favorite.
Buy back up face masks.
Buy back up face masks for your back ups.
Plan to send two CLEAN face masks to school each day.
I send two different style masks so my daughter’s ears don’t get sore on the days she swaps mask.
We’ve tried out A LOT of kids face masks. Some were handmade by friends, some from Etsy and others were from retail stores.
My daughter’s favorites face masks are:
The Gap kids’s unisex style face masks.
- The fabric works for our warm/hot Florida weather.
- There is a thin metal wire at the top that allows you to couture the mask to your child’s face for a better fit.
- I machine wash them daily and hang them to dry at night.
And
Stephen Joseph KID’S POLYESTER FACE MASK WITH FILTER POCKET & ADJUSTABLE STRAPS BUTTERFLY.
- These masks are very soft.
- They are also often hard to find and a bit more expensive.
Worried all the face masks are going to take over your kitchen or laundry room? Check out my post 13 Clever Face Mask Storage Ideas to Minimize the Clutter.
2. Labels for Face Masks
No matter what age your kids are take a few minutes and add their names to their face masks.
You don’t need the extra drama or grouchiness of a kid who lost a favorite face mask that doesn’t even have their name in it.
The first week of school my daughter left her favorite face mask outside on the playground.
To her great surprise and joy it was waiting at her seat the next morning because I’d put her name in it.
Writing a name in a face mask can be a little tricky. I HIGHLY recommend Lil’ Labels Clothing, Write on Name, No Iron, Washer & Dryer Safe, Kids for Daycare & School, Plus 2 Bonus Gifts, Set of 2.
You can use a ball point pen or a fine point Sharpie like these
3. Face Mask Lanyards for Kids
Face mask lanyards for kids is another one of those new must have school supplies that would never have been on a school supply list but for the new normal.
My daughter’s school had summer camp which gave them a chance to practice new normal procedures.
During her Teacher’s Zoom call with us she encouraged the use of face mask lanyard for kid because it helps kids keep up with their masks.
I put together this post to help you buy or make a diy face mask lanyard.
This is another 2020 school supply that I would encourage you to have more then one of!
4. Hand Sanitizer and Wipes
Hand sanitizer isn’t new on the school supply list but it has taken on a new level of importance.
I keep hand sanitizer in my daughter’s backpack and in the car.
As soon as I pick her up we wash her hands with “magic soap” or wipe them down with Wet Ones wipes.
My daughter particularly likes these Tropical Wet Ones wipes.
I add them to my Target Cart every time I do a Target Drive Up order.
Haven’t tried Target Drive Up yet? Check out my article on what to know before you try Target Drive Up.
I also spray her seat in the car down regularly with this Clorox Fabric Sanitizer that I also get at Target.
5. Patience and a Smile
Yes, this is really a school supply. There is NOTHING NORMAL about going back to school in 2021.
But our kids don’t need our fears, drama or frustrations.
Our kids need us to be patient with the changes.
And they need us to keep smiling and cheering them on.
Mama, this school year is different but our kids don’t know what they are missing unless we tell them or make a big deal out of it.
If you’ve decided to send your kid back to school plaster a smile on your face and remind them how much fun they are going to have at school.
Hug them tight, hand them their face mask and be patient with their teachers and school.
Everyone, including you Mama, is doing the best they can.
Conclusion
Must have school supplies for 2021 includes new items like face masks and face mask lanyards along with face mask name labels and hand sanitizer.
My list of must have school supplies for 2021 and beyond also includes patience and a smile.
At this point you might also be wondering how to keep up with all the face masks and face mask accessories!
Check out my post 13 Clever Face Mask Storage Ideas to Minimize the Clutter and get all those masks off your kitchen counter once and for all!
Additional Posts You Might Like
10 Face Mask Lanyards for Kids and Adults to Give Ears a Break
13 Clever Face Mask Storage Ideas to Minimize the Clutter
Hello and welcome, I love helping working from home moms master mom life, generate income for their families and stay connected with the outside world all from the comfort of home! Learn more about me 
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