Back to School Essentials: Make the New Term a Little More Fun

The summer holidays always seem to disappear far too quickly. One minute there are six glorious weeks stretching ahead, and the next you’re hunting for a missing PE kit, wondering whether last year’s water bottle is still usable and discovering that every pen in the house has mysteriously vanished.

Whether they’re starting a brand-new school, moving up a year or simply heading back for another term, a few new supplies can make the return to the classroom feel considerably more exciting. And, while the practical stuff is important, we firmly believe that back-to-school shopping should contain at least a little bit of fun too.

From brilliant stationery and colourful pencil cases to backpacks, desk gadgets and small words of encouragement, we’ve put together some of our favourite ways to get ready for the new school year.

Start with Brilliant Stationery

There’s something wonderfully satisfying about beginning a new term with a fresh notebook and a fully stocked pencil case.

Our Back to School collection is packed with pens, pencils, erasers and sharpeners, sticky notes, highlighters, bookmarks and plenty of other stationery essentials, with designs to suit children, teenagers and stationery-loving grown-ups alike.

A good notebook is always worth having for lessons, revision, homework or simply keeping track of increasingly complicated school timetables. Add a few colourful pens and highlighters and even Monday morning note-taking suddenly looks a little more appealing.

For stationery fans, brands such as Legami add plenty of personality to everyday essentials. Their hugely popular erasable gel pens are particularly handy when mistakes happen – which, thankfully, is fairly often when you’re learning!

There are plenty of character favourites to discover too, alongside colourful and trend-led designs for older children and teens.

The All-Important Pencil Case

Of course, all those lovely new pens need somewhere to live.

A new pencil case is one of those small back-to-school treats that can make an ordinary school day feel surprisingly exciting. Go colourful, quirky or character-themed – or choose something with enough room to accommodate the inevitable collection of pens, pencils, highlighters and mysteriously accumulated tiny bits of stationery.

It’s also one of the easiest ways for children to bring a little of their own personality into the classroom, particularly if school uniform leaves rather less room for creative expression.

And if the contents of the pencil case happen to coordinate beautifully? Even better.

Bags, Totes and a Little Backpack Personality

Next comes the bag.

Our Back to School collection includes backpacks and book totes, perfect for carrying everything from homework and reading books to those crumpled letters that were apparently “definitely given out yesterday”.

For children who already have their school bag sorted, a bag charm or backpack accessory is an easy and inexpensive way to give it a fresh look for September.

Small clip-ons and charms are a particularly fun way to personalise backpacks and make lovely little back-to-school treats without replacing perfectly good bags and accessories from last year.

Lunchtime Sorted

A busy school day needs fuel, so don’t forget the lunchtime essentials.

A reusable water bottle is one of the most useful items in any school bag, while lunch essentials help keep snacks and packed lunches organised throughout the day.

It’s worth letting children choose something they genuinely like here too. If a favourite colour or design means the water bottle is more likely to come home at the end of the day, rather than joining the mysterious collection in lost property, we consider that a win.

Create a Homework Space They’ll Actually Want to Use

Back to School preparation doesn’t have to stop at the classroom door.

Creating a dedicated homework or study area can help make the transition back into routine feel easier – and it certainly doesn’t need to involve a complete room makeover.

Start with a clear bit of desk space, add a notebook, pens and sticky notes, then bring in a few gadgets and desk essentials to make it feel like their own.

From handy tech accessories to novelty desk pieces, a couple of carefully chosen additions can turn an ordinary homework corner into somewhere considerably more inviting.

We can’t promise they’ll suddenly start volunteering to do fractions, but every little helps.

Little Helpers for Busy Minds

Going back to school can bring plenty of excitement, but it can also mean big changes, new routines and busy classrooms.

That’s why our Back to School collection goes beyond traditional stationery and includes sensory and fidget toys too.

Small sensory and fidget toys can be useful little companions during downtime, at home after a busy school day or simply as something satisfying to keep hands occupied.

And because learning doesn’t only happen at a desk, you’ll also find educational toys designed to make problem-solving, maths, science, reading and creative thinking feel more like play.

Perfect for keeping curious minds busy long after the final school bell.

A Little Encouragement Goes a Long Way

Sometimes the most important thing to pack for the first day back isn’t stationery at all.

Starting school, moving classrooms, meeting a new teacher or beginning secondary school can feel like a very big deal, so a small good luck gift or motivational token can be a lovely way to remind them that someone is cheering them on.

Slip one into a pocket, pencil case or school bag on the first morning as a little surprise.

It doesn’t need to be grand or expensive. Sometimes a tiny “you’ve got this” is exactly what’s needed.

Ready for the New Term?

Back-to-school shopping is ultimately about helping children feel ready for what comes next – but there’s no reason the practical preparations can’t be fun too.

Choose the essentials they need, add a few things they’ll genuinely enjoy using and perhaps include one little treat just because starting a new school year deserves celebrating.

From notebooks, pens and pencil cases to backpacks, water bottles, gadgets, fidget toys and educational gifts, our Back to School collection is packed with colourful and practical finds to help make the new term a brilliant one.

Explore the full Back to School collection at Temptation Gifts and get ready for September in style.