Back to school time again! Uniforms, stationery, bags, lunchboxes, sports equipment and more are just some of the things that children need for their new school year.
If you live in the UAE, there is one more thing that your child needs for school that you might not be thinking about staying hydrated.
Whether it is during school, physical education, outside on the bus or during the warm UAE weather, having a water bottle in your school bag is something that you should definitely consider.
If you are getting your child sorted for the 2026-27 school year, why not check out this back to school checklist that we have put together. There are some things that seem obvious but that we can easily forget. Use it to help your child get back to school in style!
1. School Uniform
The basics that a student is going to wear at school.
Before going out and buying your child a whole new uniform, look at what you have already that can still be worn from last year, since kids tend to grow so fast. A good uniform checklist would consist of:
- School Shirts
- Trousers, skirts/school dresses
- School Blazer
- School approved sweater/cardigan
- PE kit
- School Socks
- School Shoes
- Sports shoes
- Hair accessories if required
Make sure that everything fits well before the first day of school, there is no worse sight than a pair of school shoes that were found to be too tight at the wrong time!
2. The Right School Bag
A school bag is something that will be used everyday, so it is best to think about function over form
Look for well padded shoulder straps, appropriate support and lots of pockets for carrying books, as well as space for carrying lunch and other everyday items.
Test it out first! Packing the bag is a good way of seeing if everything will fit and be carried comfortably.
A helpful tip when packing your child's bag is to only pack what they need for the next day, according to their class schedule. This keeps extra books and other items out of the bag, which ultimately keeps the bag lighter.
3. Stationery
Stationery is a must when shopping for students, but it's also very easy to go overboard.
Depending on your child's year or your school's preference, your list may include:
- pencils
- pens
- rubber
- sharpener
- ruler
- coloured pencils
- markers
- highlights
- glue
- scissors
- pencil case
- notebooks
- folders
- subject dividers
In order to be able to purchase the best stationery for your students you must first go over the requirements before heading to the shops, you may also consider reusing old stationery if possible in order to reduce waste and save money
4. A Reusable Water Bottle
As we believe that a reusable bottle is an essential addition to an emirates back to school list.
As children are at school for the majority of the day water is an essential requirement for them in order to remain hydrated for such a long period of time, with PE, sports, outdoor play and travelling to and from school the water bottle really gets put through its paces and becomes one of the most used accessories in the school bag and therefore it is crucial to obtain the best one.
Having a reusable bottle which is insulated will mean that the water inside can be kept chilled for long periods of time
By having a durable bottle it will also reduce the need to constantly buy new ones every couple of weeks due to the wear and tear that most bottles go through during their lifespan at school.
At LOCH we make functional yet elegant insulated bottles that are great for every day use but still look good on the desk at work. With a range of sizes and colours and different lid options, we have something for everyone to keep their drinks cold in style.
When purchasing your child's new school bottle there are a few things to think about.
Size
Age, school hours and the amount of drinks your child consumes in a day are just some of them. It is essential to choose a suitable bottle so that your child can take all the water they require with them.
Insulation
With an insulated bottle, you can enjoy your drink at the perfect temperature for much longer, which might be essential in summertime in the UAE.
However, there are several other features that should be taken into account when buying a school bottle for your child, including the material, closure mechanism, and design.
Durability
School bags are tossed and turned and dragged everywhere. A bottle made from strong and durable materials would be best for the rough and tumble of everyday school life.
Easy to open lid
So they would not have to struggle opening and closing it at the same time,
would be easy to clean so they could maintain their everyday hygiene,
Personalised
Could be personalised so that kids would know to take their own bottle to school and not someone else's.
For a student, the water bottle they take to school is not just any extra accessory, it's their everyday companion.
5. Lunch Box and Snacks
After drinking, the next vital school affair is having lunch.
Choose a lunch box that is easily handled by your child, allowing them to carry and open it on their own, and ask if the school has a specific dietary restriction policy or allergy guidelines if there is any restriction when making the grocery list.
You can consider bringing along the following items:
- Lunch box,
- Reusable snack container,
- Fruits,
- Sandwich or wraps,
- Vegetables
- Healthy snacks,
- Reusable cutleries,
- And napkins
In addition to a reusable lunch box and snack containers, combining it with a reusable water bottle will reduce the amount of single-use plastic packaging for food and drinks during the school year.
6. Sports and PE Essentials
You need to create a different list for your child for P.E. days.
Depending on their school, you might need:
- PE uniform
- Sports shoes
- Sports socks
- Sports bag
- Water bottle
- Small towel
- Swimming kit if required
Having a sports bottle which can be kept in the changing bag or a bottle that can be transferred from the school bag to the changing bag would be useful for younger children. It is a good reminder to encourage them to drink during breaks and to keep them hydrated, especially during sports.
7. Technology
With technology becoming embedded in the lives of students these days, if your child’s school requires laptops or tablets, make sure to bring all accessories needed for their first day.
Your bag should include the following items:
- A laptop/tablet,
- A protective case,
- A charger,
- A charging cord,
- Headphones,
- A mouse, if required.
Do not forget important software or apps that the school may require.
You may want to label your charger and other accessories so that they will not be misplaced in a classroom.
8. Personal Care Essentials
A small bag for personal-care items will be helpful for young children and students attending any extracurricular activities.
Depending on the child’s age and the school’s policies, you may want to include the following items:
- tissues,
- hand sanitizer,
- wet wipes,
- a small towel,
- a comb or brush,
- hair ties,
- spare socks,
- spare clothes (in case of younger ones).
Moreover, it is vital to store them properly in an organized manner inside the little pouch so they do not fall out from the school bag at the bottom
9. Label the Important Things
School belongings tend to get left at school in the classroom, sports hall, on the bus or in the activity room.
Before the start of the school year, make sure to label your child's most misplacing items such as:
- Water bottle
- Lunch box/sack
- School bag/backpack
- Pencil case
- Books
- Jackets
- Sports equipment
- Tech accessories
Adding a name tag on your child's LOCH water bottle could also help in case of finding a match among multiple similar bottles.
10. School routine
Back-to-school preparations are not only about shopping!
Think of creating a routine that will be beneficial to us parents as well as the kids
Settle them down every evening at a specific time to do the following:
- check the timetable,
- pack their school bag,
- get their uniform ready,
- fill their water bottle
- prepare their lunch,
- charge their devices
- and get ready for bed.
Getting their water bottle filled the previous night will surely make everybody happy!
11. Make It More Sustainable
A new school year does not necessarily mean that you have to buy a ton of new things for your child
Before making any large purchases, consider what school supplies you already own or may still be able to use from previous years
Can your child's school bag still be used? Do you have to buy a whole new set of stationery? Is their lunchbox still in good enough condition?
You should ask yourself these questions and more when considering buying new things.
The same goes for buying water;
Instead of buying water from the store throughout the school year, invest in an easy to carry water bottle that your child can bring with them to school and to P.E.
This will reduce the amount of single-use bottles being used during the school year.
In addition to this, buying sustainable, long-lasting products means you can also reduce your buying habits for everyday products
12. The ultimate back-to-school checklist
Before your child's first day, make sure he/she went over the following list:
- School uniform,
- School shoes,
- Sports uniform,
- Sports shoes,
- School bag,
- Pencil case,
- Stationery,
- Notebooks and Files,
- Lunch Box,
- Snack Boxes,
- Reusable insulated water bottle,
- Sports equipment
- Personal-care items,
- Technology and its charger,
- Labels,
- School calendar,
- And the evening routine.
Start the School Year Hydrated and Ready
The ideal back-to-school bag contains all that is needed, not what is desired.
A comfortable uniform, a full school bag, the required school supplies, an efficient lunchbox, and of course a reusable water bottle will have all the items a child needs for their daily studies.
But when it comes to water, nothing beats a bottle that your child will want to take to school
Whether it be their favorite color, size, lid style, or with their name on it, the best school bottle is one that your child will ultimately use at school
Now they can have cold water to drink at their fingertips all throughout their busy day while also being considerate of the environment for their upcoming year at school.
So, get your reusable bottles ready, make your lists, check them twice, and get those children pumped for their new year!
