Perspective isn't just a gift, it's a bargain. I remember when waiting for that school supply list was like waiting for manna from heaven. I would anxiously wait til that 3rd week of August when the school would send out letters telling us who our next year's teacher would be and what specific supplies my darling Things would need for their classrooms. Somehow the thought of buying the wrong crayons or colored pencils or notebooks was more than my addled brain could handle. And I would see the sale signs with the office supplies and the moms stocking up on pens and pencils and paper based off of the "generic" lists provided for each grade. And I would self-righteously pat myself on the back for waiting because, after all, I wanted to get the "right" stuff.
My Things (1 and 2) are older now... Thing 1 is going to be a Sophomore in High School and Thing 2 is going to be an 8th grader. And now, with the wisdom that comes from experience and the realization that it is not the crayons that make the grade, I want to share some thoughts and advice for those of you with younger children. Things I wish I had known way back when.
1) There is no crayon that will stay in the box that you ever so carefully label and put into your child's backpack that first day of school. Every time I went to volunteer at school, I was always surprised at the "community" jar of pens, pencils, and crayons.
2) Teachers need whatever supplies you can afford to share with them. So if they are putting lists out in August, there are still things they are going to need. Like (again, say it with me... Pens, Pencils, and Paper). And if you have younger elementary students, crayons. LOADS of crayons. And glue sticks. More glue sticks than you can possibly imagine. And glue. For all those art projects you are going to lovingly hold on to until you realize that it was the process that they learned from and not the end result. Just saying.
3) The only difference between buying school supplies when they are on sale and waiting until August when the list comes out is paying more.
4) It will not ruin your kids' summers to think about getting school supplies in June. Their brains are still fresh with the "how they did things last year" knowledge that can actually help you figure out what's likely to happen next year (and therefore, what supplies you will really need.
So, if all other things are equal, spending your dollars can help them go further when you buy supplies on sale. Now, you will notice the one thing I have NOT recommended purchasing in advance... and that is notebooks. As kids age, they progress from community lots of paper to individualized wide ruled notebooks to the all-in-one binders that act like notebooks and folders all in one. Many schools recommend one or the other type to teach organizational methods, and I strongly encourage you to get the right one so your child learns those organizational skills. But for the rest of those supplies, Moms, save your pennies...and spend them when the prices are lowest!
