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Learn what you should always keep in your bag for school
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- Checklist |
- Packing Your Bag |
- School Bag Packing List |
- Video |
- Q&A |
- Tips |
- Warnings
Whether you’re a high school freshman or just starting college, it’s important to pack your school bag right. That way, you won’t leave behind anything you really need, and you’ll have your essentials within reach. Though you want to be prepared, you don’t want to pack excess items that will weigh down your backpack! It’s all about balance. Keep reading for a handy checklist of what to pack and instructions for packing properly.
What to Put in a Backpack for School (Teen Girls)
- Pack school supplies such as binders, notebooks, writing utensils, and a planner.
- Include personal items like your wallet, student ID, car or house keys, and lunch money.
- Bring allowed electronics (phone, laptop, tablet, headphones) and chargers.
- Add beauty and health necessities like tampons or pads, chapstick, and band-aids.
Steps
Section 2 of 2:
Packing Your Bag for School
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1Pack any books and binders you need to take to school first. Packing these heavy items first will keep them from squashing any lighter items. Arrange any books and binders vertically in your backpack against the part that touches your back, or horizontally if you have any other type of bag. [1] X Research source
- Pack your bag the night before each school day so you’re not scrambling in the morning, says academic counseling expert Alicia Oglesby.
- If you don't need a certain book or binder, leave it at home so your load is lighter—or take it to school and store it in your locker.
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2Add your planner, notebooks, folders, and homework next. If you have loose papers, like homework or notes, it’s best to store them in a binder or folder so they don’t get wrinkled or ripped. Include your planner as well so that you can make notes on homework, upcoming exams, and other important dates. Stack these items next to your books, making sure to distribute the weight evenly throughout the backpack or bag. [2] X Research source
- ”Use a handwritten planner to record your assignments and any other commitments or after school activities you have,” advises professional school counselor Katie Styzek. This will help you stay organized, even when life gets busy.
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3Include writing utensils and other supplies. It’s a good idea to pack pencils, erasers , pens, highlighters and sticky notes for school. You may also need a calculator, protractor, ruler, pencil sharpener , or a mini stapler . Depending on your age and classes, you could also include tape , glue , crayons , colored pencils , and marker pens . To keep your supplies organized, consider arranging them in a pencil case or another container. [3] X Research source
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4Put a reusable water bottle in an external pocket. It’s important to stay hydrated as you go through your day, and you might not always have access to a water fountain. Bring an empty reusable water bottle to school and fill it when you arrive. Store it in an external pocket of your backpack or carry it by the handle so it doesn’t leak on your things. [4] X Research source
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5Include your wallet, student ID, and keys. Pack essential personal items like your wallet, student ID, and car keys or house key (if you use them). Place these in the small, zippered pockets of your bag to help keep things organized. Double-check that your school ID is in your wallet before you pack it.
- Keep some emergency cash in your wallet in case you forget to bring lunch. You don’t need a large amount—someone could steal it. $10 to $20 should suffice.
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6Bring electronics and chargers if allowed. Not every school lets you use electronics. Still, pack your phone so you can use it to text friends and parents during passing periods, lunch, and before and after school. If you’re allowed to take notes electronically or require a computer for certain classes, pack a laptop or tablet. Don’t forget to bring chargers for all your devices.
- If your school allows you to listen to music, pack your earbuds or headphones. Place them in their own pocket so they don’t get crushed by heavier items.
- Follow all rules regarding electronics for your school; keep them off or on silent mode and in your bag or locker during classes.
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7Fill a small bag with health and beauty items you might need. Pack a small zippered toiletry bag with beauty and health items you may need throughout the day. Examples include chapstick, extra hair ties, Advil, and band-aids. Always pack period supplies like tampons or pads, personal wipes , and a spare pair of underwear. Even if you haven't started your period, you’ll want to be prepared. [5] X Research source
- If you want, you can add makeup, lip balm, a small hairbrush, perfume, hand lotion, and deodorant, if applicable. [6] X Research source
- If you’re taking gym class, you may be able to store things like deodorant, perfume, and hair ties in your gym locker.
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8Add items for electives or extracurricular activities. Depending on your schedule, you may need gym clothes in addition to a sports uniform or equipment (like soccer cleats or football pads). If they fit, you can store these items in your backpack so you don’t have to carry two bags. [7] X Research source
- Though an instrument isn’t likely to fit in your school bag, set the case near your bag so you don’t forget it! The same goes for a helmet if you ride a bike, skateboard, or scooter to school.
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9Pack a lunch if you don't buy lunch at school. If you take your lunch to school, store it in a lunch box in your bag. Put food items in plastic sandwich baggies to keep them from leaking. If needed, add an ice pack in your lunch box to keep food from spoiling before lunch. [8] X Research source
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10Add extra items like snacks and gum if desired. While not essential, some items are nice to have if you can fit them in your backpack. For example, you may want to add a few small snacks, like a granola bar or bag of cut veggies, in case you get hungry. Another fun extra is chewing gum or mints—just check your school’s policies to see if gum is allowed.
- If you get cold easily, pack a light jacket or hoodie. Alternatively, store an extra jacket in your locker.
- Your extras may change depending on the season. In summer and spring, you’ll likely need sunglasses and sunscreen. In the winter, a hat and gloves may be essential.
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School Bag Packing List
Community Q&A
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QuestionWhat if not all the stuff fits in my bag?RubyTop AnswererOnly take what you need each day. If you have a locker in school, leave in there what you don't need to take home. You can carry some stuff separately, such as a lunch box, a book bag and your PE kit. If you still cannot fit everything in, you can hold some things in your hands and invest in a bigger bag when you have the chance.
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QuestionHow big should my bag be?RubyTop AnswererYou should base it on how much needs to fit inside it at its fullest. Try putting everything out that you will need to take with you to see if it will fit in your bag. A small bag is impractical, but if a bag is too big, it may be hard to carry around. If you have a locker, you may need to carry less. If you plan on taking an extra bag for some of your stuff (e.g. a book bag, a PE kit), your bag can be slightly smaller. In most cases, a regular sized rucksack should be fine.
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QuestionShould I put tampons and pads?RubyTop AnswererYes, even if you haven't started your period yet, it is good to be prepared. There are a variety of period products, so take the ones you feel most comfortable using.
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Tips
- Clean out your bag regularly—about once a week—to remove extra or unnecessary items and trash.Thanks
- Keep extra pens and pencils in your bag, just in case your pencil breaks or your pen runs out of ink.Thanks
- Use a backpack with multiple pockets to help with organization. Make use of pockets and compartments to evenly distribute the weight of the bag.Thanks
Tips from our Readers
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
- If you want to be a little more organized, you can get folders that have binder holes in them, and you can put them into your binder. They’re great for if you don’t have a 3 ring binder hole punch, and you don’t want to have papers floating around in your bag.
- Try to keep your bag organized. The more organized your backpack is, the easier it will be for you to find something you need. You don’t want to be caught with a lost pencil!
- Painkillers are necessary for period days, and it’s good to have an umbrella in case the weather suddenly changes and it rains. You don’t want your hair to be ruined!
- Try making a list before you go to school and tick the items off as you put them in your bag. This way, you're less likely to forget something important!
- If your backpack is too heavy with all of your books in it, try carrying some of the heavier books in your arms to avoid back and neck pain.
- If you're allowed, keep some medicine handy in case you get sick.
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Warnings
- Don’t forget any prescription medications or emergency medical supplies—like an inhaler or Epi-Pen—if you may need them during the school day.Thanks
- Avoid over-packing. Bags that are too heavy can cause issues with your back, neck, and shoulders. [9] X Research sourceThanks
- Note that some schools require medical supplies, such as Epi-Pens or insulin, to be kept in the school nurse’s office to avoid theft, misuse, or loss. [10] X Research sourceThanks
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References
- ↑ https://www.brownhealth.org/be-well/how-pack-backpack-right-light-and-tight
- ↑ https://www.brownhealth.org/be-well/how-pack-backpack-right-light-and-tight
- ↑ https://youtu.be/xJ7qvGBu_7E?t=53
- ↑ https://getillum.ca/blogs/blog/back-to-school-checklist-teenage-girls
- ↑ https://raisingchildren.net.au/pre-teens/development/periods-hygiene/periods
- ↑ https://powertodecide.org/teen-talk/7-must-have-items-carry-your-school-emergency-kit
- ↑ https://www.buckshealthcare.nhs.uk/cyp/pifs/schoolbag/
- ↑ https://getillum.ca/blogs/blog/back-to-school-checklist-teenage-girls
- ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/backpack.html
About This Article
Article Summary
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When packing your school bag, make sure to put the essentials in first, like your books, planner, and homework. It’s also a good idea to pack some pencils, pens, erasers, and highlighters as well as some other key items, like tape, a ruler, a pencil sharpener, and sticky notes. Once your school supplies are packed, add your personal items, like your wallet, phone, and keys. You can also fill a small bag with health and beauty items, like deodorant, floss, tissues, period supplies, and even a spare pair of underwear. To learn how to pack items for extracurriculars, keep reading!
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Reader Success Stories
- "Thank you for posting this article! I'm a sophomore in high school and things get very stressful. So this definitely gives an idea of how to be less cluttered. The quarantine has made me very messy, so thanks for this article." ..." more
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"Thank you for posting this article! I'm a sophomore in high school and things get very stressful. So this definitely gives an idea of how to be less cluttered. The quarantine has made me very messy, so thanks for this article."
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"I love how you just made everything specific and gave out suggestions on what to put in your pencil pouch and backpack. I'm a freshman in high school, and showing me how to organize my backpack really helped."
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"The most helpful section in this article would be the emergency and the tip to place some of the non-essential items back into my locker if my hour in school is over and am currently going to my other hours!"
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"You pretty much covered everything I would use at school. It was really helpful. The only thing I would add is hand gel, aspirins, bandages, a small mirror and an extra pair of socks. <3"
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"This really helped. I had no idea how in the world I would pack my back to possibly make it lighter, and organizing it in this way actually did make it lighter! Very satisfied."
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