Back to School 2022: Everything Need, Where to Buy & Best Deals

Well, ladies and gents, the time has come and back to school is just around the corner. Summer holidays are a long haul … some parents will be cheering, others will be sad, but either way, it’s time to get your checklist out and start shopping for Back to School 2022 and get your hands on another year of school gear.

Whether this is your first trip around the school stop drop and go or you’ve been around the block before, we’re making it extra easy for you this year.

Start the new school year off by being extra organised and get on top of it all now. We’ve got a list of the items every child will need and where to get the best deals. Behold, our back-to-school 2022 guide.

SCHOOL SHOES

If you’re going to invest in any school item, then it needs to be school shoes! You’ll most likely have to buy them a new pair every year (or even twice a year if they have a big growth spurt).

OUR TOP PICKS FOR BACK TO SCHOOL 2022:

1. Ascent Footwear – Apex Black Leather School Shoe

Comfortable, supportive and made to last, Ascent has been trusted by Aussie parents with their school shoe needs for over 20 years.

The APEX Black Leather School Shoes ($119.99) is our pick for this year – they are black leather school shoes but also work as sports shoes in disguise. However, you can find heaps of school shoes there – starting at $84.99 and in various sizes, half sizes, widths, and even toe shapes.

Ascent school shoes are endorsed by medical professionals and all of their shoes pass the essential 3-Step School Shoe Check for bending in the right place, a firm heel counter and minimal twist.

FREE SHIPPING, FREE RETURNS and ZipPay available.

Get back to school ready with Ascent! 
Explore their full range of formal black leather shoes
 from Australia's favourite school shoe brand.

2. AIRFLEX and ZEROE by Airflex School Shoes

With 130 years of shoe making expertise behind them, Airflex school shoes ($129.99-$149.99) are another great choice for your little ones. Nothing is more important than the perfect fit for growing children’s feet, and with multiple width options and removable insocks to accommodate for orthotics, Airflex has you covered. High-grade leathers are used to allow uppers to be soft and comfortable while maintaining durability.

Zeroe by Airflex school shoes ($129.99-$139.99) combines the technology of Airflex shoes with the sustainability of Zeroe bringing you sustainable school shoes that meet Vegan Australia Standards. Great for your kids feet and great for the environment.

FREE SHIPPING, FREE RETURNS, and Afterpay available.

MUM CENTRAL READER OFFER: 
OFFER: SAVE 25% OFF all full price school shoes 
T&C’s apply **. 
OFFER ENDS: 1 February 2022

** Valid on full price Airflex and Zeroe school shoes. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer. Price as marked at the checkout. While stocks last.

WATER BOTTLES

Keep them healthy and hydrated with a water bottle that they can easily take anywhere. We suggest you look for a water bottle that is:

BPA Free
Durable
The right size for little hands
Leak-proof

OUR TOP PICKS FOR BACK TO SCHOOL 2022:

1. Ecococoon Spill & Leak Proof Drink Bottle

ecococoon drink bottles — Source: ecococoon

Ecococoon’s Spill & Leak Proof Drink Bottle is the perfect size for thirsty kids – 350 ml ($35.95), 500ml ($39.95) and 600ml ($44.95).

What we love about Ecococoon is that their drink bottles are spill and leak-proof, even without the lid on. This is thanks to the ingenious one-way valve in the spout and leak and spill-proof cap.

No more wet school bags, car seats, or beds! The valve also stops gross food backwashing into their drink bottle.

MUM CENTRAL READER OFFER:
OFFER: Free Bottle cover worth $14
CODE: BacktoSchool2022
EXPIRES: 31.01.2022

2. MontiiCo Original Drink Bottle

Montiico Drink Bottles — Source: Montiico

MontiiCo creates epic everyday essentials for active Aussie families, just like ours! Their original drink bottle ($30.95) is a winner! Customise yours with different coloured lids and bumpers and choose from various styles (Free Pour, Sports 2.0 and Sipper).

MontiiCo’s original drink bottles are vacuum-insulated double-wall stainless steel and come with a 600ml capacity. They’ll keep drinks cold for 24 hours and hot for 8! The bottle and packaging are dishwasher safe, and 100% recyclable and no plastic comes in contact with their drink – just a silicone seal. BPA-free, and dishwasher safe, it even comes with a handy handle for little hands and a wide mouth opening to easily add ice cubes.

MUM CENTRAL READER OFFER: 
DISCOUNT: SAVE 10% OFF
CODE: MUMCENTRAL
EXPIRES:  01.02.2022

NAME LABELS

You’ve got all this awesome new school stuff but how can you ensure it actually comes home with your kids? Easy – stick a label on it! This is the easiest way to keep your kids’ stuff safe and reduce the risk of ‘sharing’ germs with other kids.

You can get name labels of all shapes and sizes that can stick to clothing, backpacks and bags, lunch boxes and school supplies. Definitely a must for every organised parent this year!

OUR TOP PICKS FOR BACK TO SCHOOL 2022:

1. Cash’s Sticky Labels

personalised stickers back to school — Source: Cash’s

Cash’s sticky labels are not only eye-catching but also ideal for ALL the school things. Simply peel and stick. Choose from various adhesive name labels starting at $17.95 and with extra protection.

All labels are dishwasher and microwave safe and Cash’s shoe name labels and round name labels also feature clear overlays on the sticker surface, adding that extra layer of protection from everyday wear and tear. Designed to last a lifetime, there is no need to ever replace your personalised name labels with Cash’s.

MUM CENTRAL READER OFFER: 
DISCOUNT: SAVE 10% OFF
CODE: MUMCENTRAL

2. My Name Label

Another great pick for name labels is My Name Label, starting at $15. Ideal for everything the kids take to school that you do not want them to lose or share with others – lunch boxes, drink bottles, pencils and pens, books and sports gear. All their labels are made from durable vinyl that is dishwasher and microwave safe.

Jump online and let the kids design their own labels. It’s fun and easy to do and offers a great way to get them excited for the school year. Their school stickers will help keep track of your belongings and also minimise the spread of the things you do not want shared.

MUM CENTRAL READER OFFER: 
DISCOUNT: SAVE 10% OFF
CODE: MC2022

3. Easy Decals – Personalised Vinyl Name Labels

Want unique, stand-out name labels this year for Back to School? Easy Decals vinyl labels are an exciting way for your kids to choose a font, colour and style of label to complement their Back-to-School décor.

Their personalised name labels come in a variety of sizes to fit just about anything. Vinyl labels are durable, have an incredible outdoor last, are scratch resistant and won’t fade.

Starting at just $6 or $22.95 for their great value Personalised Name Label Sheets. Never lose your prized possessions again.

MUM CENTRAL READER OFFER: 
OFFER: Save 15% off all personalised name label collection
CODE: MUMCENTRAL22
EXPIRES: 18.01.2022

LUNCHBOXES

Another must-have for school, regardless of whether your child is entering prep or high school, is a lunch box! We really love bento boxes and so do kids of all ages. They make eating fun and offer an easy way to add variety to their daily lunch.

However, regardless of what type of lunchbox you’re after, make sure it comes with these features:

Reusable
Leak-free
BPA Free
Durable
Machine Washable

OUR TOP PICKS FOR BACK TO SCHOOL 2022:

1. Spencil Big and Little Bento Box

Perfect for picky eaters, or kids who love variety (who doesn’t?), the Spencil Big Bento, $39.99 and Little Bento, $34.99, comes with 6 different compartments including a removable 4 compartment inner sandwich tray. It ticks all the boxes – BPA-free, easy to open and shut, reusable and sustainable.

One great thing about the Spencil is that it comes with leak-proof seals so you can pack wet and dry foods next to each other. Yoghurt that stays in place?! Yep! The Big and Little Bento Boxes pair perfectly with the Big and Little Cooler Lunch Bags, also available at Spencil. Lunch kit sorted!

MUM CENTRAL READER OFFER
OFFER: SAVE 10% OFF Bento Boxes 
CODE: MUMCENTRAL_BENTO

2. Felli Foody Bento Lunch Box

With four leak-resistant compartments in three different sizes, this bento-style lunch box, $32.95, is perfect for storing anything from salad, dried fruits and nuts, chopped vegetables, fruit, crackers, sandwiches and more.

Not only leak-proof and easy to clean, the Felli is also fun to pack and great for transporting snacks to park playdates, for work lunches or portion control. Complete with a two-way carry handle (vertical or horizontal) this divided lunch box is perfect for both adults and kids alike.

MUM CENTRAL READER OFFER
OFFER: SAVE 35% OFF Felli Foody Bento Boxes 
CODE: N/A
EXPIRES: 01.30.2022

3. Cash’s Bento Box

Our final pick is the personalised and adorable Cash’s Bento Box, $39.99. It comes in a variety of colours and designs to suit your child’s preferences and make heading back to school fun for your kiddies!

One stand-out feature of Cash’s Bento Boxes is their long-lasting nature which means they can withstand even the toughest of conditions. Plus, their bento lunchboxes and their leak-proof silicone seals prevent any liquids from entering compartments.

With 4 or 6 compartments, these kids lunchboxes are also made from food-safe materials, BPA-free, BPS-free and approved by the FDA.

MUM CENTRAL READER OFFER: 
OFFER: SAVE 10% OFF Bento Boxes 
CODE: MUMCENTRAL

BACKPACKS

A good backpack matters immensely, especially s your kids start to bring home piles and piles of books. There are several backpacks on the market and many schools will request that students purchase a school backpack. However, if you do get a choice, always look for one that comes with these features:

Support – look for one with a padded hip belt, padded shoulder straps and a contoured/padded back
Water-resistant – machine-washable is a big plus too!
Multiple compartments – this makes it easier to keep kids organised
Durable – make sure it’s made from a material that is designed to last

OUR TOP PICKS FOR BACK TO SCHOOL 2022:

1. MontiiCo

Our top pick for backpacks for kids of all ages and stages is the MontiiCo, $69.95. It comes in six cool designs that kids will love plus it’s lightweight, water-resistant, durable and most importantly – MACHINE WASHABLE!

Featuring three generous-sized pockets (two large side pockets for water bottles, a padded inside sleeve for laptops and tablets) plus thick, padded, comfortable and adjustable shoulder straps, the MontiiCo backpack ticks all the boxes and more.

You’ll also love the strong and sturdy custom MontiiCo zips, easy carry handle and handy carabiner attachment hidden inside the front pocket. Available in six designs to match their lunch boxes, why not grab a matching set! #twinning

MUM CENTRAL READER OFFER: 
OFFER: SAVE 10% OFF 
CODE: MUMCENTRAL

2. Skip Hop Big Kids Backpack

For the little learners in your life, you really can’t go past the adorable collection over at Skip Hop! Their backpacks are great for preschoolers but their Big Kids range ($55.95) is great for older kiddies too.

They come in heaps of cute characters including Ferguson Fox, and all the bells and whistles too. Like roomy compartments, an insulated pouch for snacks, and padded, adjustable comfy straps. They are BPA and Phthalate-free, easy-to-clean and easy for kids to open, close and pack themselves.

REWARD CHARTS

A great incentive for kids starting school or returning to school is a reward chart! Reward charts work to keep children focused year-round by offering a reward for tasks completed. They are great for building confidence and driving motivation. There are plenty of options – sticker charts, DIY charts and online charts.

OUR PICK:

1. Goalstar Reward Chart

Our pick is definitely Goalstar Rewards which takes goal setting to the next level and provides motivation for the entire year. Goalstar Rewards, $124.99, is a unique online program designed to help children set and track goals, as well as motivate them to achieve. It is developed for all-around growth in 4 key areas – Social, Academic, Sports and Behaviour.

It is easy to track their own progress, build up reward points that will help them achieve a reward from a wide range of cool gift cards, cash (i.e. pocket money) or special activities. The program works with a free app that is easy for both kids and adults to use. You can also check out the Goalstar Rewards website for great parenting tips.

MUM CENTRAL READER OFFER: 
OFFER: Enjoy a free four-week trial
Hit the button below to join.

STATIONERY AND BOOKS

The specifics on what they need will greatly on the school. Most schools will either put out a school supplies list before the beginning of the year as well as preferred suppliers.

Some schools include school supplies as part of the school fees. In any case, you are most likely looking at the following items:

Glue sticks, scissors, pencil sharpener
Rubbers, pencils and pens
Highlighters, felt pens, coloured pencils and whiteboard markers
Ruler, calculator and projector
Pencil case
Textbooks, dictionary, thesaurus, school journal and reading diary
Musical instrument in some instances as well as a music book
Various notebooks, binders and clipboards
For older kids, you may also need to BYOD (device) but check with the school.

Most of these items will need to be labelled. Helloo name labels!

OUR TOP PICKS FOR BACK TO SCHOOL 2022:

1. Post-it® Super Sticky notes

Source: Mum Central

Post-it® Super Sticky notes are ideal for pretty much everywhere – at home, at school, at work. We recently shared a few fun ways to use Post-it® notes around the home but it’s also a smart move to pack some in your children’s pencil case. They are great for adding notes to school work, for flagging certain pages that are important and simply for spicing up their school stuff.

They are great for us parents too – use them to write little notes to place in the kids’ lunchboxes (great for those first few days when there could be tears), create flashcards for the kids to help them with spelling words, and add them to your weekly calendar to keep track of all the events and activities the kids have.

Check out the extensive range at Officeworks including super sticky notes, flags, tabs and more, in all shapes and sizes. Life. Sorted. And so colourful too!

UNIFORMS

This will most likely depend on your child’s school. Most schools have a dress code for hats, jumpers, shirts, shorts/pants. Some may also require your child to purchase a specific backpack, book bag, sport bag and library bag.

Here are a few of our top tips for school uniform shopping:

Try secondhand – Always check your local school’s FB group to see if there are any second-hand uniforms going. You may also be able to find them on Marketplace.
How many – This depends on how often you do the washing. If you’re a weekend washing warrior, you’ll need five sets. If you tend to do a load a day, then you should be sweet with three sets.
Keep in mind that most schools also have sports uniforms (a polo shirt, training shoes and sometimes a different hat). They will wear this once a week and on school sporting events like cross country.
If you’re buying a specific school uniform, you may want to buy a bit bigger. School uniforms should be able to last longer than one year.
While many private schools will have specific uniform shops they use, this isn’t the case with public schools. Some great places to buy school uniform basics are Best ‘n Less and Big W.

Well, folks, that about wraps up back to school 2022 shopping. We hope our back-to-school guide makes it easy for you to score the best deals and prepare for a successful and organised year of schooling.