My friend Shelly wrote these helpful Back To School Tips From A Teacher for me to share with y’all!

I don’t have any kids.  (You might be wondering why in the world, I would be giving you these tips then….)  I am a teacher.  I have lots of experience with what kids need!  

It is NOT necessary to buy your child a ton of new clothes for their return to school.  A new outfit for the first day might be nice, but if their summer clothes still fit, I wouldn’t go out and buy a ton of new ones.  Your child will probably need lots of new clothes when the weather gets cooler, but why buy new warm weather items?

The most important thing that my students can have is a nice pair of comfortable tennis shoes.  Recess and gym are so much easier when this is the case!

Here are some great tips to help get you and your child ready for returning to school:

Back To School Tips From A Teacher

Thrift Stores, Consignment Shops and Goodwill:
These are great inexpensive options.  Ask the cashier which day of the week they put out new merchandise.  This can help you decide which day to shop, because the best items will be there on that day.

Yard Sales:
There are about 4-5 more weeks of great yard sales this summer, and I think you will be surprised at the deals you can find.  

Clearance racks:
Kids can be hard to shop for on clearance racks, because you never know what size they will be the next year.  But sometimes, you can catch the clearance items to finish up the season. 

Coupon Sales:
Gymboree and Kohl’s both have great coupon sales, as well as many other stores.  Watch out for these special offers, and you can save a ton.  Check out Mr. Rebates for coupon codes and cash back on shopping.

Hand Me Downs
Do you have friends or family with kids older than your own?  This makes a perfect opportunity for Hand Me Downs.  Many times kids grow out of their clothes so fast that this is ideal.  The clothes are still nice, and what is better than free?.

What is your best tip for shopping for back to school clothes?