Preschool Essentials: 8 Things You Need For Your Little One’s First Day

Excited for your toddler’s first day of preschool but unsure about what to pack for them? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Our guide is packed with all the preschool essentials you need to ensure your little one is fully prepared for their first day of school.

If you’re planning to do some back-to-school shopping and preparing for your toddler’s first day of preschool, you’re probably wondering what on earth you need to pack for them.

As a toddler mom myself, I know how nerve-racking it can be to send your child to a new school or daycare for the first time.

It’s a big transition!

One thing that always helps to ease my nerves is making sure I have everything as prepared as possible so I know my little one will have everything she needs.

While you will probably receive a school supply list of necessary items to bring from your specific school, this post will guide you on the most important things you’ll need to pack for your toddler’s preschool and share what preschool supplies have worked best for us.

From toddler backpacks to lunchboxes to extra clothes, I’ll share with you all of our favorites.

This post is all about the preschool essentials you’ll need for your little one’s first day.

Common Preschool Essentials

1) A Small Backpack

A backpack is an essential item for any preschooler.

It’s a place to store all of the supplies your child needs for school, from snacks and art supplies to extra clothes and shoes.

A backpack also helps to give your child a sense of independence and responsibility for their own belongings.

It’s also just plain fun for kids!

Backpacks come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, so it’s easy to find one that’s perfect for your needs.

Preschoolers can even help choose their own backpacks, picking out their favorite character or favorite colors.

Favorite Backpack For Preschoolers

• Pottery Barn Kids Backpack – The backpacks from Pottery Barn Kids are my absolute favorite because the mini size they offer is perfect for toddlers and many backpack brands are way too big for little kids. They’re also well-made and come in many adorable colors and patterns.

2) A Lunchbox

Packing lunch for your preschooler can be a fun and easy way to ensure they’re getting the nutrients they need to grow and learn.

But with so many lunch boxes on the market, it’s hard to know which one is right for your child.

Here are a couple of things to keep in mind when choosing a lunchbox for your preschooler:

1. Make sure the lunchbox is big enough to fit all of your child’s favorite lunch items. However, you don’t want it to be too big or bulky, as this can make it difficult for your child to carry.
2. Choose a lunchbox with a design that your child will love. Some lunchboxes come with fun characters or patterns, while others are more simple and understated. There is really no wrong choice here – just pick something that your child will be excited about.

With these tips in mind, below is what we use for our 3-year-old and it has worked out wonderfully for us.

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3) A Water Bottle

Choosing the right water bottle for your preschooler can be tricky.

There are so many different materials and styles to choose from!

However, it’s important to pick a water bottle that is safe for your child and will last through all of their adventures.

Stainless steel water bottles are a great option for preschoolers.

They are durable and won’t break if your child drops them. Plus, they are BPA-free and won’t leach chemicals into your child’s water.

4) An Extra Change of Clothes

When packing your preschool essentials for your little one, be sure to include extra clothes in case of spills, potty accidents, or illness.

While you may not need all of these extra clothes every day, it’s better to have them and not need them than to need them and not have them.

So pack up those extras and rest easy knowing your little one is prepared for anything.

Below is what I recommend sending with your child.

If your child is more prone to accidents or your school requests more, you may want to send more to be sure you have enough.

• 2 Extra Outfits appropriate for the season
• 2 Extra Pairs of Socks
• 2 Extra Pairs of Underwear

5) Name Labels

It can be difficult for young children to keep track of their belongings, especially when they are surrounded by other kids and adults all day long.

That’s why it’s so important to label everything that your child takes to daycare or preschool, from clothing and shoes to water bottles and backpacks.

Name labels are preschool essentials because they are a great way to ensure that your child’s belongings always make it back home at the end of the day.

They don’t wash off like permanent marker will eventually, and if something does happen to go missing, name labels make it much easier for your child’s teacher to return lost items to their rightful owner.

So whether you’re packing a lunchbox or labeling a jacket, be sure to put your child’s name on it!

Favorite Name Labels

Our favorite labels are these customizable labels from Bright Star Kids Labels.

We purchased the Daycare Name Labels Combo Pack and use the labels all year long to label our daughter’s belongings.

The Bright Start Kids labels are dishwasher safe, microwave safe, washing machine safe, and dryer safe.

Plus, they come in a variety of cute designs, and the company is always running sales, which makes them a great value.

I’ll be honest, I was skeptical at first that these labels would hold up to multiple washings through the dishwasher and washing machine, but, to my surprise, they’ve actually held up super well and still look brand new almost two years later.

6) An Extra Pair of Shoes

Any parent of a preschooler knows that preschool children can be hard on their shoes.

Whether it’s stomping in mud puddles or scuffing them up on the playground, it’s not uncommon for preschoolers to come home with their shoes looking a bit worse for wear.

Some schools will actually request you pack a pair of indoor shoes on their own list of preschool essentials. This way the kids won’t get mud all over the classroom after playing outside.

Any set of shoes should work; we usually just toss an extra pair that is clean into our daughter’s backpack in the morning.

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Seasonal Preschool Essentials

7) Sun Protection

It’s important to pack sunscreen for your preschooler, especially if they’re at a school that recognizes the importance of outdoor play and the kids spend a significant amount of time outdoors.

Even if it’s cloudy, the sun’s rays can still damage your child’s skin.

And, because children have more delicate skin than adults, preschool students may be more susceptible to sunburns and other types of damage.

A wide-brimmed sunhat will help to protect your child’s face, head, and neck from the sun, and it will also help to keep them cool.

Make sure to pack both sunscreen and a hat whenever your child is going to be spending time outdoors.

Our favorite sun protection products are Blue Lizard Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen and the SwimZip Kid’s Sun Hat.

8) Winter Gear

Once the weather starts to get colder, it’s always a good idea to have a few extra items on hand in case of snow.

A hat, winter jacket, and gloves are essential for keeping little ones warm.

Since it’s not safe for your toddler to travel in the car seat with a big winter jacket on (See “The Dangers of Winter Coats and Car Seats“), I usually have my daughter wear a lighter-weight fleece jacket on the drive to and from school and then we pack her warmer winter jacket with the rest of her winter gear for outside play.

If there’s snow in the forecast, then snow pants, winter boots, and snow mittens are also a must.

Favorite winter gear for preschoolers:

• Snow Pants – Lands’ End Kids Iron Knee Winter Snow Pants
  We love the Lands’ End snow pants because they’re durable and have always kept our toddler warm. The adjustable shoulder straps allowed these snow pants to last us for THREE winter seasons, and they still look good as new.
  
• Snow Boots – Sorel Children’s Snow Commander Waterproof Boots
  These Sorel winter boots are a bit on the pricier side of what I like to pay for toddler shoes, but making sure my little one has warm and dry feet is of utmost importance to me. She wore these all winter and never had wet feet after playing outside in the snow.
  
• Winter Hat – Carhartt Baby Trapper Hat
  If your little one is a little older, you may want to opt for a slightly larger hat, but this hat has lasted us for two seasons, starting at two years old. It still fits our 3-year-old, and I imagine it will fit next winter as well. I love how warm this hat is, and it velcros under the chin, so it always stays on.
  
• Winter Mittens – Outdoor Master Waterproof Winter Mittens
  We have been through sooo many different snow mittens and we struggled for so long to find a pair of mittens that would actually stay on. If you’re looking for winter mittens for toddlers and kids that actually stay on, these are the ones you want. They are really long and tighten around the wrists so we usually put these on first and then layer the winter jacket over them and they stay on perfectly.

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This post was all about the preschool essentials to buy for your child’s first day.

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