Back To School Buying Checklist

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10 days to back to school or starting school for the younger ones. This year students will start their academic year in March 2022. Below are some must haves back to school supplies for students returning to school or starting school this March.

1. School Uniforms 

This year students may continue to wear suitable neat and appropriate clothing if their school uniforms do not fit. However, if you are thinking of shopping for school uniforms, check out our list of school uniforms official stores in shopee. These are common uniform suppliers or sellers. Make sure to read the reviews left by buyers. These are really important to help you decide if the uniform is comfortable and suitable for your child. For very busy parents, nowadays you can get wrinkle free school uniforms too.





2. School Shoes

Use black school shoes with black socks. Two common brands are Pallas and Bata. Online usually gives you better discounts. However, you will need to know the size of your child's feet well. Remember to measure according to the size chart or check it out at the physical stores.




3. Masks

With the masks mandate still on in school and public places and in the face of rising cases, it has become a necessity to stock up on masks. This is one more item we should add to our checklist this year. Read our post on Choosing Masks for Back to School and Where to buy KF94, KN95 and KF99 masks online. You also need to think about whether you need to get a mask holder to keep the masks during meal times.


Biomate #KF94 (Korean filter masks) direct from Korea. Use code KMOMMPSP1, KMOMMPSP2 or KMOMMPSP3 for extra 5% discount here.


4. Sanitizers and Wipes

Which is better? Hand Sanitizers or Wipes? Liquid spray or gel sanitizers? Parents are faced with these kinds of choices nowadays. For younger children, it is probably safer to stick to wipes first. We should teach the kids to use these items safely. Some parents buy cute portable cartoon holders for the hand sanitizer. However, you need to check whether your school allows this.





5. Textbooks and Workbooks

All school children will receive textbooks and workbooks free on loan during the school year. However, some parents buy their own set to be kept at home. Some innovative parents even break the books up into smaller sections to lighten the school bag. This year, schools will receive lockers for children from P1 to P3 while students from P4 - P6 will receive lockers starting next year. Not sure where to buy workbooks or textbooks? Check out our post on Where to buy workbooks and textbooks. Both physical and online stores are included in the list. You may also be interested in the post on Digital Textbooks for SK, SJKC and SJKT. Note that the links for the textbooks are frequently changing so check out another link if one does not work. 


6. School Bag
Roller bag or backpack. Which is better? This is one of the most frequently asked questions by members of our facebook group: The Malaysia Primary School Parents on Facebook Group. Below is the search thread for this discussion from 2013 up to the present time with pictures and suggestion from other parents.

What school bag should I buy? What brand of school bag? Where to buy? Which is better?

7. Stationery

Existing students may still have their old stock of stationery, all they have to do is replenish whereas newer student may need to stock up on the following. We wrote tips beside the items for easier reference.

1. Pencils (some schools do not allow mechanical pencils for younger children)
2. Erasers (make sure to get plenty because they always seem to get lost somehow)
3. Colour Pencils
4. Pen and (younger children may not need this)
5. Liquid paper or correction tape (kids these days tend to make use of correction tape more)
6. Crayons or oil pastels (Oil pastels are richer in colour and glide on more easily)7. Rulers 
8. Calculator (for secondary school student)
9. Geometry set (for secondary school student)
10. Glue stick (for arts and crafts)
11. File folders (for secondary school student)
12. Pencil case
13. Book wrapper (slip on book wrappers help to safe time)
14. Notebook
15. Scissors (get kids friendly scissors without sharp ends and with cover for younger kids, left handed children can consider getting scissors for lefties)



8. Food Containers and Water Tumblers

Before the pandemic, outside caterers were allowed to deliver to school. You can even order food catering from school where lunch or recess will be laid out on the tables for kids who do so. However during the pandemic or rather the endemic stage which we will be going into starting in April 2022, homecooked food or food from home is encouraged. That means you will need a food container and water tumblers. Check out the tupperware collection from Shopee. This is a collection of different sellers all on one page so you can easily compare products and prices. Don't forget to read the reviews too!


9. Devices for Online Learning

Even though we are moving to endemic stage now, we will still need devices for online learning. The pandemic has fast tracked our ability to learn online from home. Even if we do not switch to online learning, teachers now have the skill and resources to conduct classes online ad hoc if required. Similarly, we should also be prepared to meet and learn online immediately on demand or if we are suddenly required to do so. You may need some of the following devices for online learning.

1. Desktop computer/laptop/tablet
2. Headphones/earphones
3. Microphone
4. Webcam
5. Drawing tablet (optional)




10. Home storage for school supplies

Last but not least, we must not forget that we need to find a place to store all these school stuff at home. This is a challenge especially if you have a few school going kids but it can look really nice if you rise up to the challenge. Home storage can be simple storage boxes or desk organizers, to a whole built in study room. It is all up to our own budget. 




Happy Shopping!

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