Just when I had exhaled a massive sigh of relief that Christmas (and all the spending it inevitably brings) is now over, I've been hit with the harsh reality that back-to-school shopping is firmly on the horizon... only after just narrowly surviving Christmas clean-up and the Boxing Day sales.
With my kids starting Year 2 and 4, I've done my fair share of shopping for school supplies over the years. Naturally, I've also made some mistakes too. However, this year, I'm taking a vow: I'm going to work smarter and not harder.
Here are the four ways we're doing back-to-school shopping differently this year.
1. Investing in good school shoes (and getting them fitted properly).
When my oldest was in Kindy, we made a terrible mistake. We pickled up a pair of black leather shoes (which she absolutely loved) but after only one school day, she started to complain that they were uncomfortable and her feet were sore.
Unfortunately, she never wore them again, and we had to spend the weekend buying a new pair.
This year, to make sure we get it absolutely right, we are heading straight to The Athlete's Foot to pick a good quality pair from the Alpha range.
I was so excited to hear about this range because my son has a flatter foot so buying shoes that have adequate support is super important to us.
We're eyeing off the Riley and Lennox shoes which come in both wide and narrow options, and most importantly, are endorsed by the Australian Podiatry Association.
Grabbing the Riley shoe for each of my little ones will allow me to rest easy knowing that they both have the right support for those long school days.
It's also a plus that they have lots of flexibility and durability, so they can see through all that play on the handball court.
The breathable mesh and additional innersoles are also great as they will definitely help with comfort (and any interesting smells) throughout the year.
All Alpha shoes have a 9 month outsole guarantee which gives me peace of mind knowing that we are well and truly covered for any mishaps.
The folks at The Athlete's Foot also take the time to know the fit is just right — they see how they walk in the shoes, and find out the correct length, width and arch shape. They also take into account that they are fitting feet that seem to grow at lightning speed.
While I know the trick of the ol' thumbnail space in front of the shoe, I also realise that shoes (just like feet!) come in all different shapes, sizes and widths so I'd rather just leave it to the professionals. After all, I don't want another repeat of the sports shoes incident.
What's even better? Alpha Shoes is donating $1 of every pair purchased to their charity partner, The Song Room.
2. Remembering that school uniform basics are not always readily available throughout the year.
I find that uniforms usually sell out real quick at the start of the year and are rarely restocked until the next round of back-to-school shopping kicks off.
I learned this the hard way last year when some places (that aren't specialised uniform shops) had very little stock on hand throughout the year. And considering my eldest had a growth spurt and her winter pants suddenly became three-quarters, this was a bit of a dilemma. The only saviour from this conundrum was remote learning, which was the one bright side to the challenging nature of learning from home.
To save myself from this mid-year struggle, I'm going to buy the next size up in the off season prior, granted it’s not a school logo specific item.
If you are able to, grabbing an extra uniform (even if you pick one up secondhand) can be a lifesaver throughout the working week. I do wash and wear so having an extra uniform means I don't have to stress about making sure a certain shirt is washed for the next sports day.
3. Not waiting until the last minute.
I’ve made this mistake with blue glue sticks and clear contact. One year, I was a little unprepared and by the time I got my act together, all the handy little bulk packs of glue sticks, rubbers and pencils were gone. Not only that, they were suddenly charging the same price of the multipacks for one stick of glue. The audacity!
I had a similar experience with clear contact. Last year, I was happily enjoying the summer holidays, thinking there would be an abundance by the time school went back... not a roll in sight. I was left with the lower quality stuff left on the shelves, and it was such an effort to cover the books.
I'm proud to say I've learned from my mistakes. Instead of waiting until mid-January, we're heading straight to the shops to pick up all our supplies. That way, we don't have to compromise on quality or price!
4. Building a supply drawer.
After last year's shopping disaster, I decided to come up with a new strategy. Not only I am avoiding the last minute dash, I've also been stocking up in dribs and drabs. Whenever I saw a good deal in 2021, I took advantage.
I made a drawer for extra school supplies to pull from at back-to-school time. It's also been super handy throughout the year as there are plenty of supplies for the kids to grab whenever they need a new glue stick or extra HB pencil.
It's something that will help make my life easier this month — I won't spend all of January scouring around for twisty crayons, whiteboard markers, or waiting on edge for name labels to arrive in the eleventh hour.
Even though it only just feels like I've finished wrapping presents, I'm already swapping out the Christmas paper rolls for book contact ones. I'm ready! To my fellow parents, good luck and may the force be with you.
Alpha shoes are the perfect shoe for the active child, expertly designed to be comfortable for all day wear. Grab them exclusively at The Athlete's Foot where $1 of every Alpha shoe sold is donated to The Song Room, funding creative programs in schools around Australia.
Feature Image: Supplied/Mamamia.