Back to School is Cool When You Have All the Gear

Everything you need to get your kids organised for the start of school mamas!

It’s almost that time of year again mamas – the summer holidays are coming to an end (sigh) and the kids are heading back to school (hooray!). Whether you’re a proud new-timer at the school gates or a seasoned school mama, one thing’s for sure, shopping for all the gear is something we’ve all got to do. From sassy school bags to lovely lunch boxes, school shoes to stationery and a whole heap of extras you might find handy, we’ve put together our top finds to make sure that your little pupils are armed and ready. 

Firstly…

Mamas, you know the drill, back to school means that the kids are likely to come home with a sniffle or two within a few days – and before you know it the whole family will be battling a bug. Keep the germs at bay and little immune systems topped up with Yaya’s fruit flavoured/animal shaped Omega 3 vitamins full of essential fish oils that boost brain power and help create little geniuses.

From AED 59 at all leading pharmacies 

School Bags 

BeatrixNY Backpacks
Loved by our Sassy Mama Dani’s daughter Amara, these cute and simple backpacks are a great option for packing in books for school. Each one comes with an adorable illustration on the front whether your kid is partial to Amara’s ladybird one above or maybe the owl, robot or ice cream versions as well. While we don’t think many other kiddos will be out rocking these bags, you can get them customised with your kiddo’s name (just in case!). They even come in joint lunchbox sets which just makes everything so much easier. See the whole range here.

AED 199, available at Babysouk.

Billabong Sweet Heart Back Pack
Your tot’s going to win major style points with this one! Billabong’s released a super cute backpack as part of their new line which the kiddos will go gaga over. Who needs sunshine when you have all these bright colours?

AED 265, available at Billabong.

Gap Back Packs
Gap’s really upgraded their back to school offerings this season with sweet floral and marbled navy packs. Big enough to carry your children’s seemingly endless school supplies, it’s got a few extra pockets as well for you to sneak some goodies in.

AED 175, available at Gap.

Lunch Boxes

Lou Harvey Long Tom Coolers
How cute are these little lunch boxes?! This adorable South African brand is available over at Little Majlis and this bag is a great option for the tots, with a little strap so they can carry it separately. There’s a temperature controlled lining inside as well and loads of different colours and patterns you can peep at here.

AED 125, available at Little Majlis.

SMASKA Lunch Box
While we have absolutely no idea what SMASKA means, we’re totally in love with this adorable lunch box. It’s super affordable and big enough to stick a good lunch in, plus the little dog face and ear flap catches are too cute. Plus, it means another trip to Ikea which is always a great day out in our books…

AED 12, available at Ikea.

Spencer and More Bento Boxes
Squeeze in a lunch the other kids’ll be envious of with Pottery Barn Kids’ Bento Box containers! Inspired by the Japanese panelled lunch boxes, they come in loads of different colours and are perfect for keeping food organised and tidy. (A mama’s dream!)

Store and More Containers
Lakeland’s easy to use Store and More Containers are mama’s godsend. The kiddos are going to be running around their pack on, so these air and watertight lunch boxes are a great way to avoid any of those awful schoolbag spills. Microwave, oven and freezer safe, it’d take a nuclear bomb to knock one of these babies out. Plus once the littles have finished chowing down, they collapse down to save space which is pretty neat.

AED 17-56 depending on size.

Water Bottles

Cozycan
Yep, that’s not a soda pop can mamas – it’s a water bottle! There’s a little opening for a straw and vacuum insulation, plus they come with adorable little illustrations that we’re totally in love with. Made from steel, they’re pretty easy to clean and small enough that they don’t take up a lot of space in their schoolbag.

AED 89, available from Baby Souk. 

Crocodile Creek Solar System and Dancer Drinking Bottle
Little space rangers and dancers will go mad for Crocodile Creek’s eco-friendly waterbottles. With a pull up spout and flip cap to prevent any nasty spills, they have the added perks of being totally lead safe as well as phthalate and BPA free. Out of this world.

AED 40, available at Baby Souk.

Spring Drink Bottle
Is there anything that Typo and Cotton On don’t do? Their super cute line of plastic water bottles are pretty electric, with a range of fun illustrations ranging from watermelons to seahorses. It’s pretty light and has a fun sippy straw that makes accidents less likely.

Available at Cotton On.

Plumber Academy Water Bottle and Carry Bag
If your tot’s glued to the screen every time Ben 10 appears, they’ll be able to show off their love of the show at school with this swanky water bottle. With a fun carabiner to clip it onto your child’s backpack and even a carry bag, your kiddos will be reaching for a bit of water once all the crime fighting’s done for the day.

AED 25, available at Mumz World. 

Pencil Cases

Avengers Challenger Round Pencil Case
Marvel’s doing pretty well with the merchandise proceeds at the expense of mama’s wallet and this pencil case isn’t any different. We’re sure you have a child in the family who goes gaga for Iron Man and they’ll be able to take him to school with them every day, plus there’s quite a bit of storage for the inevitable masses of  coloured pencils the tots will insist on.

AED 30, available at Mumz World.

Cinderella A Moment of Magic Round Pencil Case
This sparkly Cinderella princess case is something out of a dream, with a photograph of the heroine herself on the side and a bejewelled zip for extra flair. Definitely a pencil case your mini royals will tote around the school with pride – just be prepared for a compulsory viewing of the film again.

AED 30, available at Mumz World.

Lou Harvey Alec Aviator Pencil Case
Did our hearts do a little somersault when we saw this for the first time? Totally. Grab your little Amelia Earhearts and Wright brothers and snag one of these adorable pencil cases. There’s something about vintage planes that’s just so classic.

AED 50, available at Little Majlis.

School Shoes

Allegro
If your tot’s school is a little more lax with dress codes, then maybe consider grabbing your daughter some of Allegro’s gorgeous children’s shoes. Created with leather sourced from Spain, Italy and Turkey, these handmade shoes will have your little girl dancing all day long.

Available at multiple locations.

Jack Nano shoes at Clarks
Boys can stay comfy and smart in these black leather school shoes with a grippy rubber sole and reflective panels plus a free spaceship toy in the heel (yes, you read that right), antimicrobial linings to keep feet fresh (so no more smelly boy jokes please).

Available at Clarks stores across the UAE

Disney Shoes at Shoemart
For a pair of shoes the kiddos will love to wear, why not check out Shoemart’s super affordable Disney Mary Janes? Frozen fans will go wild for the snowflake detailing and cheeky picture of Elsa and Anna, while the more subtle Minnie Mouse shoe comes with a sweet little bow.

AED 119, available at Shoemart.

Ecco Ballet Flats
It’s hard finding a good pair of fuss-free ballet flats, but Ecco’s sorted our little girls out with these simple Ecco flats. Designed to follow the shape of your tot’s foot and with a cute little bow embellishment, they’ll go with every outfit even when your kiddo’s not at school.

Available at Ecco.

Ecco Slip On Brogues
Okay, so they’re not quite brogues, but they’re about as close as we’ll let the littles to a pair until their feet stop growing. (Those things are shockingly expensive.) These adorable slip on versions are a great placeholder in the meantime: easy, black and sure to please any teacher doing a surprise uniform check. The detailing is what’s sold us though, subtle yet effortlessly cool.

AED 449, available at Ecco.

Lacoste’s Sherbrook Hi
Who said that kids couldn’t be stylish? If your tot’s school is one with a dress code, then these stylish black hi-tops are a great go-to. Lacoste’s shoes are both super comfortable and built to last, and they’ll easily see your kiddo from classroom to playground without any problems. You can opt for a velcro or lace option – super handy when little hands are trying to sort out their knots and bows!

Available at Lacoste stores. Also comes in navy blue.

 

Spiderman Shoes at Shoemart
There’s something about superheroes that makes the kiddos lose their minds and these fun Spiderman shoes are sure to be a delight. Great for running round in and dark enough that you don’t have to be too precious about cleaning them, the to-be-expected spiderweb detailing is a fun addition for aspiring web slingers.

Sports Shoes

Victoria white canvas plimsolls
Remember these mamas? Unisex white plimsolls are a great option for school – washable, comfy and able to withstand the wear and tear of scampering little feet. Perfect for a little nostalgia and all at a discounted price.

AED 110 (saving AED 70) at Mini Exchange 

Stride Rite trainers
Give them a head start on the field and in the sports hall with a great pair of trainers guaranteed to put a spring in their step, run or jump. Oh and save AED 100 on the usual retail price. Everyone’s a winner!

AED 100 (saving AED 150) at Mini Exchange

Lacoste Fairlead TCL
Adorned with ‘go faster stripes’ and a crocodile on the side – mini sportsmen (and women) will love these – and there are no laces to complicate getting them on and off.

AED 275, available at Lacoste.

Yoga Fly White Leather trainers from Clarks
Girls’ active trainers that mix durable white coated leather with a dash of glitter and sparkle. Agion antimicrobial linings keep little feet fresh during school sports or after hours fun.

Approximately AED 180 available at Clarks

Name Labels

Is there anything more annoying than the kids losing their kit on day 1? Make sure that their gear is labeled to the max and they’ll have no reason to let their stuff go walkabout ever again. Hear that kids? Never ever again.

For the coolest name labels around we love Stuck On You – their range is huge and there are adorable designs to choose from (monkeys, koalas, fire engines, dinosaurs – you name it, they got it) and loads of shapes to make things a little more interesting. If your kids prefer a slightly grown-up and sensible option then the classic name labels are just the thing.

There’s also Forget me not, a cute little online store does everything from stick-on to iron-on labels plus personalised shaped options that are durable, waterproof and ideal for identifying everything from lunch containers to sports equipment.

Lady Bug Labels is another mama fave for stylish name labels – they can be water resistant, microwave safe and can some can even survive the washing machine! Choose your type of label (iron on or stick on), size, colour, text and picture, and in around a weeks’ time your brand new labels will be delivered to your door. Easy peasy!

Stationery

Deck your child’s new pencil case out with goodies from British brand Paperchase and your kids may just end up the trendiest ones in class. This popular stationery shop stocks tons of colourful stuff like polka dot gel pens, funky highlighters (in all colors and shapes) and eye-catching notebooks, as well as folders, files and even backpacks!

Looking for reliable and practical stationery that’ll survive the classroom? With a wide variety of paper products as well as a covetable range of craft tools, WHSmith has your little lovelies covered for back-to-school writing supplies. And it doesn’t stop there either. You will find anything from notebooks to calculators, diaries, pencil cases and more!

If your kids tend to rock a “minimalist cool” style, then a set of lecture pads and some other bits and pieces from Muji should make them happy. With stores in Dubai Mall and Mirdif City Centre – Muji’s main draw card is the massive selection of pens available; from coloured gel pens to basic blue biros, you can easily stock up for the entire year in one go.

And our new favourite? Typo in Dubai’s very cool BOXPARK – a heaven for any stationery addicts out there – we could easily spend a few hours and a whole lot of dirhams in here!

Hair Cuts

The most important accessory for the first day of school? A good haircut (because how can they possibly see the blackboard through that crazy fringe?!) There are plenty of places in Dubai for expert kiddie cuts complete with distractions (we’re talking tv screens and themed interiors) to keep them still and calm. Check out our list here.

Organisers

From the UK Organised Mum stocks everything for the efficient mama! The weekly planner is a great way to keep track of the gazillion activities and appointments each munchkin might have on a daily basis. Or check typo in Box Park for similar!

And finally…something to sweeten their first day

From September 1st – 10th the magnificent Magnolia Bakery will be selling cute vanilla or chocolate cupcakes topped with vanilla buttercream and an edible mark the new school year. Pop one into your kiddos lunchbox with a little note – how adorable are these ready made versions by Stuck On You?!

Now breathe and treat yourself to a manicure at one of our fave nail bars mamas!