Six Back-to-School Must-Haves Every Tween Needs

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6 back-to-school must-haves for tweens including a backpack, water bottle, school supplies, emergency kit, and spare clothes

By: Mauve Juliette van Marle

AHHHHH! That was literally the sound of me screaming because school is coming!

I’m actually excited to see my friends again, but there’s one tiny problem…I have no idea what I need for school! And I definitely don’t want you to go through the same thing.


So, while you’re reading this, grab your notepad because I’m sharing my 6 back-to-school must-haves for tweens! These are the things I think you actually need to have the best school year ever.


1. A Good Back-to-School Backpack


Yes, I know a backpack is probably the most obvious thing you need for school. BUT hear me out.


Please do NOT get one with like 500 pockets because who actually uses all of those?! At the same time, don’t get a backpack with no water bottle pocket. Trust me, you do NOT want to be carrying your water bottle around all day because it doesn’t fit in your bag.


When choosing a back-to-school backpack, I recommend looking for:

  • A laptop or tablet pocket
  • A water bottle pocket
  • A comfortable handle
  • Enough space for your notebooks and school supplies

Basically, it needs to be cute and useful.


2. Water Bottle


A water bottle is another total back-to-school essential.


The best water bottles for school are leakproof, easy to carry, and can keep your water cold for a long time. Because drinking warm water at school? Absolutely not.


There are SO many brands to choose from, but some popular options are Hydro Flask, Lululemon, and Owala.


And yes, I know Stanley is super popular, but personally, I would choose one of the other options instead.


3. Cute School Supplies


If you’re not exactly in love with every school subject (same), having cute school supplies can make things a little more fun.


I don’t know about you, but getting cute notebooks, pencils, calculators, erasers, and pencil cases makes me way more excited to actually use them.


And if you need a little motivation, you can also keep a positive note inside your pencil case. It could say something like, “You’ve got this!” or “Keep going!”


It sounds small, but sometimes you just need a tiny reminder to feel a little more confident during the school day.


4. House Keys


If you walk home by yourself, you probably know how annoying it is to stand outside banging on the door waiting for someone to let you in.


That’s why having your own house key can be such a huge help if your parents or guardians are okay with it.

I also recommend putting a cute keychain on your key so it’s easier to spot and harder to lose.


If your family uses a tracker like an AirTag, you could also ask your parent or guardian about putting one on your keychain so it’s easier to find if it goes missing.


5. School Emergency Kit


An emergency kit for school can be SO helpful.


Imagine your hair tie suddenly breaks, your lips get super chapped, or you have a tiny school emergency. Instead of panicking, you can just grab your little emergency kit!


You can keep things like:

  • Extra hair ties
  • Lip balm
  • Tissues
  • Bandages
  • Hand sanitizer
  • A few other small personal essentials

You don’t need a giant bag. Just make a little kit with things you might actually need during the school day.


6. Spare Clothes


Imagine wearing your FAVORITE shirt to school and then…you get a stain on it. Worst Thing. Ever.


It’s so annoying, which is why I like keeping a spare T-shirt in my backpack just in case.


You never know when you might spill something or just need a change of clothes. A spare shirt takes up barely any space, so I think it’s totally worth bringing.


Also, I’m going to be posting a Y2K back-to-school fashion trends post soon, so STAY TUNED because we are definitely talking about outfits next!


Final Thoughts


Those are my 6 back-to-school must-haves for tweens:

  • A backpack
  • A water bottle
  • Cute school supplies
  • House keys
  • An emergency kit
  • Spare clothes

Honestly, that’s pretty much everything you need to get ready for a great school year!


What school year are YOU going into? Tell me on the Contact Me page!


Good luck with the new school year! You’ve got this! If you enjoyed this post, you’ll probably also love my articles on the The Ultimate Beauty and Self-care Guide or 7 Bag Essentials I Never Leave Home Without!

I'll continue adding new articles on beauty, music, recipes, product reviews, and tips on my blog, so be sure to check back for more! Follow me on:

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Thanks for reading, and I'll see you in the next post!

💕 – Mauve Juliette

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