School Supply question

[dez1978]

Its that time of year again already. So I have questions for you guys. Do you buy all new supplies every year, or do you reuse some stuff from year to year. Example: Last year I sent a bazillion pencils with my 2nd grader bc I got like 96 of the Ticonderoga pencils for $5 on amazon. End of the year he came home with at least half of them, but no longer in the boxes. Would you just send those in like rubberbanded together or in the pencil box? Colored pencils, they are on the list every single year, but come home still 3/4 unused. Do you send those back in or just spend the $2 on new ones? Glue, usually most of the bottle is still left, sometimes there are notebooks that only have a couple pages used from them, etc. It just seems so wasteful to not reuse some of that stuff, but if there is a reason not to, thats fine too.

I usually shop thru out the year as I see deals on glue sticks and folders and stuff so then when school starts I send a little basket of extras for the class. Sometimes it's like 30 glue sticks that I got for $2 or the pencils, or 40 erasers or whatever.

 

[ronandannette]

Honestly, although it is pretty wasteful, I always bought new stuff because for most kids, that's a rite-of-passage into a new school year. The expense was pretty modest and it was something my DS cared about. Maybe not all kids do? His elementary school actually sold "supply packages" that they organized so for many years there wasn't even any shopping involved and almost everybody ended up with exactly the same things.

If you do go ahead and buy new, keep the pencils - just put them in a pencil box/pencil case to be used as needed. For the rest of it (used crayons and glue or whatever), consider donating last year's excess to a day care or community centre.

 

[Katiebird]

We generally use things until they’re not functional anymore. Sometimes an item will become a home supply and we buy a new one for school.

 

[unrequited23]

If the supplies are in good condition we will reuse them--binders, scissors, rulers, 3/4 blank notebooks, glue bottles over half full, supply box, pencils, erasers that have not been split in two with a pencil (why do they do that?!?)

My oldest seems to always bring home 5 brown markers, three green and a red--never the full 12 count rainbow he started the year with, so markers are always picked up at the start of the year.

We're also meanies who make the kids use the same backpack and lunchbox as long as there are no rips/tears/weird smells.

 

[lanejudy]

DD's school never sent home any "required" supply lists. Sometimes a teacher would request a binder or folder. Binders we often re-used maybe with a fresh pack of 3-hole paper. We have plenty of pencils around and made sure she always had a few in her bag or a pencil box. Other stuff like glue, markers, colored pencils, etc. we just had around home for when it was needed for homework. High school did require a specific calculator, but shared a link where it was on sale and also mentioned an older model would be acceptable.

 

[ronandannette]

I think re-using, or continuing to use anything that's still serviceable is much more common now than it was a dozen years ago when my DS was elementary age. We're all so much more aware of consumption and conservation. It's a good thing and especially good if the kids understand those values and can see how what we do contributes to the purposes we say are important to us.

 

[Skippy918]

I try to reuse, but some of the supplies are communal so I ended up getting mostly new stuff for this year. I have noticed that middle school is less picky when it comes to colors and types of notebooks.

 

[DLgal]

We reuse as much as possible, but my son is in high school now. Its mostly a binder and paper and then just pens and pencils.

 

[jo-jo]

I am beyond the years of buying school supplies, but something I did during the school year. When ever my child had a cold, aside from stuffing his pocket with tissues, I'd send a box for the class. I figure the less kids used their sleeves, the better for everyone.

 

[tvguy]

My son starting school came at the same time as the first Walmart opened here. The prices were so cheap I stocked up. My son is 35 now and I STILL have wide ruled binder paper, about 100 pencils and 50 pens in the closet! Every few years backbacks and binders got replaced as they wore out, but I think my Granddaughter, who is 3 will be getting a whole mess of wide ruled binder paper, pencils and pens from me when she starts school.

 

[amylevan]

I fall somewhere in the middle: pencils, highlighters, binders, rulers, scissors, pencil boxes all get reused.

I buy ll bean backpacks and they will use them for years.

But I do let them get new lunchboxes, folders, and notebooks.

And let’s be honest, nothing beats a brand new box of Crayola crayon.

 

[aprilgail]

Always a new backpack and new school supplies- until she hit high school- then she just wanted to use the same backpack each year which was fine with me LOL but she still got new school supplies to go in it.

 

[NannyBeBe]

In the school where I volunteer, we would be reluctant to accept any supplies that were opened or used, because of COVID protocols.

 

[Toolulu22]

Anyone who doesn’t reuse things, please ask your child’s teacher if they might use them. I teach high school and give out pencils and paper on a daily basis. There are also kids throughout the year who ask if I have a folder, binder, dividers, and other materials. Many of my students aren’t picky about new/used, as long as the items are in good condition. They tend to be appreciative of items you lend or give out.

Ask your child if they would like to pick something new for school supplies- they may surprise you with their request.

 

[sjberg79]

Some things my son (entering 3rd grade) can reuse, like scissors and ruler. Others I'm just buying new, like he totally demolished his pencil box and he should have new pencils and coloring materials for a new year in my opinion. I do make him reuse his backpack because it's bulletproof and that thing was expensive. He's had it since kindergarten. And yes, he knows it's bulletproof and he knows if the worst thing ever happens protect the head and crouch and don't be a hero. I believe the backpack has an expiration life of 5 years. If he didn't have that particular backpack, I might be inclined to replace his backpack more often.

 

[design_mom]

When the kids "pooled" school supplies, I would always buy new. But, when they started keeping their own supplies, it would depend. I'd always buy new notebooks and folders (we never had any come home in "like new" condition), but without question I would recycle things like scissors, ruler, etc.)

 

[ronandannette]

In the school where I volunteer, we would be reluctant to accept any supplies that were opened or used, because of COVID protocols.

Why? Anything that sits untouched for a week or so is perfectly fine. No way for the virus to live on a hard surface indefinitely.

 

[emer95]

I am beyond the years of buying school supplies, but something I did during the school year. When ever my child had a cold, aside from stuffing his pocket with tissues, I'd send a box for the class. I figure the less kids used their sleeves, the better for everyone.

Oh, God bless you. I teach 3rd grade and tissues are the number one item on my wish list. The school supplies tiny boxes of scratchy, worthless tissues. I buy several boxes a year for my class, but when a parent sends in a box I am thrilled!

 

[CinderEmma94]

We homeschool, so we just replenish as needed (usually once/school year). However I grew up pre-k-12 in public school so I have that experience as well. In elementary if we came home with supplies at the end of the year they went into the general home use/craft supplies and we would get new stuff for the new year. Only got new backpack/lunchbox if the ones we had were far too nasty to use. Once in middle/high school supplies stayed with us and we just got things I needed and would reuse. Only exception was I’d get a new notebook per subject even if the ones from the previous year still had use. I’d turn them into journal/sketch/random thought notebooks so the paper was used just not at school.

 

[jaybirdsmommy]

It depends on the supplies - those pencils would absolutely get rubber banded and sent back. Colored pencils seem to breed in my school supply drawer so I've pieced together a complete set to send in a few years, some years we just take the easy way out and buy new. Same with scissors, if I can find a pair at school supply time they'll get reused.

Crayons and dry erase markers are always bought new, they never seem to come back in reusable condition.