 Grade school goodies. Source: Vendors Once kids reach grade school, they’ll want items to reflect both their growing independence and their budding sense of self-expression. And with longer school days often in the mix, lunch gear that keeps food warm (or cold) becomes especially useful. OmieGo makes insulated bento boxes, while tech-forward Uvi is a self-heating lunch box that can even cook and steam various ingredients. For transporting warm liquids from hot chocolate to soup, Zojirushi (our favorite rice cooker brand—try this one!) makes great, minimalist insulated mugs, as does the classic old-school brand Thermos. We have this Minnie Mouse one. Long bus rides during the summer and early fall can be especially punishing in the heat, making a personal fan a surprisingly essential gadget. Compact, portable fans now come in all kinds of smart designs, but we’re enthusiasts of Banzai’s lightweight, rechargeable neck fan—it’s hands-free and surprisingly durable. Lunch notes are a wonderful (if occasionally time-consuming) way to add an extra touch to school meals, and several companies now make pads and cards for precisely this purpose. Check out My Minds Eye’s Occasions collection, and this similar option from Paige Tate. How about backpack charms?! We adore the Super Smalls brand in general for its bedazzled accessories and toys, and the company just came out with new charms in shapes like shells and clovers. As for school supplies, Ooly makes mechanical pencils in colorful designs, as well as erasable markers. For notebooks, as a child of the 1980s I still have a soft spot for Lisa Frank’s fantastical, rainbow-hued ones. (I used these.) For a more contemporary option to stay organized, Yoobi’s wide-rule spiral notebooks come in various prints.  Middle school musts. Source: Vendors In middle school, kids start to gravitate toward more mature, streamlined supplies and styles. And because everything old is new again, the original JanSport bags are making a comeback. Backpacks from athleisure brands such as Lululemon and Nike, specifically the Elite line, are also hot. Dagne Dover’s neoprene Dakota backpack is a personal higher-end favorite—chic, easy to clean and available in muted, modern colors plus various sizes that balance form and function. On the supply front, Five Star makes rugged, no-nonsense three-ring binders with dividers, while Rifle Paper Co. (we love its wrapping paper) makes options with reinforced metal corners and pretty floral designs. For design-forward spiral and softbound planners, Erin Condren offers bold, customizable options, and Poketo makes a more compact version that’s easy to tuck into a backpack. No 21st century school bag is complete without a leak-resistant water bottle. Created Co. makes sleek, minimalist stainless steel options, while MiiR has a similar 360 Traveler model, plus the Everywhere bottle for those that don’t need insulation. And for kids who like electrolyte drinks, I am absolutely in love with Sport Drink, a new ultra-clean maker of delicious lime and orange powders. One final item that’s probably already glued to your older kid’s body: headphones. Last year we did a deep dive on premium over-the-ear styles; for more affordable options, consider Sony’s noise-canceling headphones and Skullcandy’s Hesh Anc. And for an in-ear option, Apple’s AirPods always win out. | 
