Start the new school year off right!

Our 2026 Back-to-school Shopping Guide

BACK-TO-SCHOOL DEALS

Shop our top finds on Amazon

*Disclosure: Barley & Birch participates in the Amazon Affiliate Program and as a partner, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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School Supplies & Organization

Backpacks & Lunchboxes

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First-Day-of-School Favorites

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Back-to-School Kids Picture Books

CUTE Kids Back-To-SCHOOL FAVORITES

Unique Finds From Etsy

Add a little extra fun to the first day with these one-of-a-kind back-to-school finds from independent creators on Etsy. From personalized gear to playful classroom accessories, each item is an opportunity to support small shops and make the new school year feel extra special.

One quick note: Most of the items in these collections are from US-based shops, but not all of them. If you’re hoping to have them delivered in the next few weeks, be sure to double-check the shop location and estimated delivery time.

*Disclosure: Barley & Birch participates in the Etsy Affiliate Program and as a partner, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Backpacks

School Supplies

1st Day of School

BTS Style

Even more BACK-TO-SCHOOL shopping

My Favorite Places to Shop Around for Fun School Supplies and Fresh Kid ‘Fits

Maisonette

Maisonette has a whole category of special back-to-school everything – clothes, shoes, supplies, and more!

Lilla Barn

Bright and colorful handmade clothing collections + artful accessories (Bergen’s emails are always good for a smile too!).

Grove Collaborative

For more sustainable school supplies or back-to-school basics (like lunch-packing supplies, tissues, etc.) check here!

Mochi Things

For kids and adults who love cute and stylish stationery and home organization supplies.

Ooly

Fun and colorful art and craft supplies for kids of all ages.

Raymond Geddes

This is a great option if you plan on purchasing school supplies in bulk, or are looking for quirky novelty items.

From just a few scraps of wood and simple supplies, you can make your own super-hip, mid-century-modern beachfront DIY dollhouse in an afternoon. No, seriously!

BACK-TO-SCHOOL Activities and DIY Ideas

From changing schedules to first-day jitters, the transition from summer to school can be a bit bumpy. Help kids bridge the gap and get excited for a new school year with these school-inspired art projects, crafts, activities, and printables.

Visit our back-to-school crafts and activities

2026 School Shopping Dates to Remember

Amazon Prime Days – June 23rd – 26th

Walmart Deal Days – June 24th + July 7th – 12th

Dick’s Sporting Goods – Late June through July 4th + ongoing through the fall

Old Navy Back-to-School Sales – late July through August

Staples Under $1 School Supply Deals – August 1st – 30th (in-store and online)

Office Depot School Supplies Under $3 – August 1st – mid-September (in-store and online)

BACK-TO-SCHOOL SHOPPING TIPS

Take stock of leftover supplies, clothes, and gear before buying anything new.
Buy basics in bulk or pool resources to buy non-perishable items like pencils or tissues with other parents (using school apps or creating a school supply chat group can make organization and communication easier).
Find out if and when your state has a sales tax holiday.
Watch for big July sales (which typically happen around the 4th of July, during July’s summer Prime Days, etc).
Use an app like Flipp, Phia, or ShopSaavy to help you do real-time price checks with a barcode scanner, “clip” and save coupons, or notify you about price drops.
Use a rebate app like Ibotta or Fetch
Buy discounted gift cards before you head out for shopping.
Use drugstore rewards, cash in bank or credit card reward points, download manufacturers coupons, use cashback tools, and ask about price-matching to stack savings.
Explore thrift stores or Facebook marketplace for potential back-to-school steals.
Consider reselling gently used items to fund this year’s purchases.
Work with others to create a communal classroom stash of school supplies with any extras – leftovers from last year or extra items from bulk purchases can be donated so it’s available for anyone in the class throughout the year as needed.