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What NOT to Buy for Back to School

What do we need to buy for back to school? This is the question all parents, teachers and school-based therapists alike will be asking when those back to school aisles start popping up at Target. It can be SO easy to get sucked into buying all different types of cute and cool new gadgets for back to school. But it can also get expensive! Below are the top three things I would recommend not purchasing this back to school season!

1) Cute Pencils

Don’t hate me for this, but don’t buy all of those cute pencils that are on the market nowadays! First of all, they typically are not a good quality pencil. They are like to break easily, not sharpen well, and/or erase poorly. Too many frills can be distracting too! They may be cute, but in the long run, the traditional Ticonderoga pencils truly are “the world’s best pencil”.

student using a turquoise pencil gripper on a Ticonderoga pencil wot complete a worksheet

This goes for pencil grippers too! If you are looking to improve your student’s pencil grasp [check out my tips here], not all pencil grippers are going to do the trick. I would recommended consulting with your school’s occupational therapist (OT) [even if your child does not receive OT support]. However, pencil grips that support where a child is to put their fingers, and help to support pencil placement are the most helpful. Broken crayons can actually support pencil grasp believe it or not! Considering using one piece of a stackable pencil [affiliate link] or a golf pencil to promote a more mature grip. When there isn’t room on the writing utensil to fist it or hold with multiple fingers, students are more likely to use a tripod grasp!

2) Fancy Fidgets

a variety of fidgets with rainbow colors like pop its and pop tubes

Some students need extra movement or tactile input to stay focused – absolutely! But you do not need to BUY fidgets. In fact, many of the commercially-made fidgets can be more distracting than helpful. If a fidget is used as a toy rather than a tool, it is counterproductive. If it is too flashy/noticeable, and other students are distracted by it, again, it is not productive. Have you tried Velcro strips on the top or inside of the desk or on the chair? Spiral hair ties on the wrist or small amounts of play dough or clay can serve as fidgets too. We have some students who are permitted [per their 504 or IEP] to chew gum! Consider flexible seating options or other ways your student can get sensory input in the classroom!

3) One Time Use Items

student completing a tracing worksheet with a scented marker

Get more “bang for your buck” by thinking of ways to reuse items. Classrooms tend to use a lot of worksheets. While I think imitating or copying is more effective than tracing [a story for another day!], I know that sometimes students will be competing worksheets on their own. I love to laminate anything and everything I can think of to make it reusable! If I don’t have time for that, I use sheet protectors or these handy dry erase pockets [affiliate link]. All tracing and maze worksheets that are targeting fine motor control can be laminated! Or… consider a multi-sensory approach to writing [or any other activity!] to increase engagement and rate of learning!

More Resources for Back to School

For more advice, check out the SSE Blogger team blog on Back to School Advice from Veteran Teachers/Therapists for our best tips and tricks or grab the FREE Back to School Forms to get your year started!

back to school forms including parent communication, life skills, cooking in the classroom, transportation and getting to know your child

Best of luck this school year! I hope it is the best one yet!

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