[funandlaughter]

My DD1 will be starting big school in 2013.

I have got uniforms and hat, school and library bag, lunch bag and drink bottle.

Just a few little questions though:

Stick on Name Labels - What site do you recommend to buy them from?

School Shoes - Any particular brands better or worse then others? Do you find it better to buy shoes from athletes foot etc and they last longer or just get them from target or big w?

Hair Accessories - I would like to get some school hair bands and headbands. Does anyone know where I can buy them online?

And what do you pack in their school bags each day? just lunch bag, hat, drink bottle and spare change of clothes? any other things that I am missing?

[Winterdanceparty]

Have a look on ebay - they seem to sell everything on that web-site.

[howdo]

Stuck on You is good for name labels.

Target and Big W school shoes are rubbish I would get good quality ones and unless 'school shoes' are specified and a sports uniform worn, please consider shoes suitable for running and not black lace ups as they are impractical for daily physical sport.

The hair accessories are available in target etc, so you could try there online.

[Julie3Girls]

Labels .. I bought some from identity direct. But with a lot of stuff, I use a black permanent marker. Works better, doesn't peel off, if it washes off I just rewrite it.

School shoes .. some of the "proper school shoes" actually have more flexibility in them these days, and are fine for general PE/running around the playground. I do put them in proper joggers on sport day. I get Lynx brand for my girls, mainly because they went the smallest in size, and my girls started school in size 8 shoes

Hair accessories - places like Lowes and best and Less have hair bands in the standard school colours (plain black, gold, burgandy, bottle green and navy). I also find these days there are heaps of "mum-type" businesses which sell hair accessoriesand will often do school colours for their local schools. There are several around here - one stocks some of her stuff at the local hairdresser, another actually sells through the school uniform shop.

Stuff in the school bag - lunch box, drink bottle, hat, and spare undies in the front pocket. I never bothered with a complete change of clothes - accidents were very rare with my girls, and the school keeps a lot of change of clothes.
Oh, and communication book also went in the bag every day.
But the school will let you know what else needs to come and go from school. Eg, what day the library day is etc.

[mumto3princesses]

I have tried cheaper shoes and we did ok last year but this year they were rubbish. I think if you want to go with the cheaper end of school shoes then I would only look at grobys. I have decided to go back to Clarks now as I found if I get them fitted properly then they usually last all year which is much better than trying to find replacements when they are pretty limited at the shops.

Name labels. I like Identity direct the best but they are more $$. Other than that Bright Star kids are pretty good too. For clothes though I do a sharpie marking pen.

Hair accessories are everywhere. Target, kmart, big w, lowes and even our local chemist and junky type shops sell the local school colours.

A spare hat saves tears just in case a hat gets lost at recess and doesn't get found by lunch time.

[RatbagBob]

Don't get cheap shoes, remember your kids have growing feet and school shoes should be fitted correctly - your kids will spend a lot of time in them so they really should be comfortable.

Our school likes kids to bring their lunch, drink bottle, jumper and raincoat/poncho with them every day. Most schools will have a change of clothes if needed.

[msro82]

Labels - I like brightstar kids (15% off storewide today)

Shoes - DD is in Prep so first proper year of school. I purchased some clarks the other day from williams. They have quite flexible soles so for basic running around they will be fine. She will wear sneakers on sports day once a week. As someone said to me they spend 4 full days in school shoes, they need to be supportive and comfortable. I also liked the look of the lynx shoes.

I have purchased clip in bows and they do headbands and lots of different things from a online bow business. If you would like the specific name just PM me. I have purchased from them several times and always perfect! Bands I just get at the chemist or big w.

DD takes lunchbox, drink bottle, hat, spray jacket (in case of light rain), spare undies and socks, library bag when required. That's about it I think!

I totally agree have two school hats, nothing worse than trying to find a hat when you are running late! We have always had two and its been great.

[mumto3princesses]

Our school usually has a meet the teacher evening about the 2nd or 3rd week of school where they will go through specific needs for each class. Like which days they have PE and need sports shoes and library etc. Then certain teachers prefer certain types of books or folders etc.

I strongly suggest having a trial run of the school bag with a lunch and ice brick plus drink in it. Something I will never forget when my twins started school a few years back. Second day of school they lined up where they were told to when the bell rang and I put DD#2's bag on her back and she fell backwards against me and DD3 struggled too. I went out and bought them new lighter bags that day. I was later told that yes, there was quite a few little turtles! The little ones fell backwards and were stuck like a turtle laying backwards on its shell.

[librablonde]

Shoes- I bought school shoes for DD and DS in Kinder and Prep from K-Mart. They were utter crap and fell apart about 4 months into the year. I had to buy DD 3 pairs of shoes during her Kinder year!! Both kids kept scuffing the toes off their shoes and creating actual holes. Also, the velcro straps fell apart, a buckle broke off and DS's cheapie school boots wore entirely through the sole. For Grade 1-2 for DD I bought her expensive Roc brand lace up shoes and they've lasted 12 months for each year. No broken velcro or buckles, toes are heavily scuffed but the leather is thick so can be just polished to look reasonable again. I now believe well-made shoes are totally worth the time and money of purchasing them.

[Soprano-Cat]

Please, if she can't do up shoelaces, buy her velcros or buckles!

Bane of my existence, little kids with undone shoelaces who can't do them up themselves. And it doesn't matter how many times you double-knot them, kids have an uncanny ability to have them come undone.

Leave your shoelaced shoes for practicing on at home!