It’s that time of year again; the summer holidays are wrapping up and parents are frantically trying to get organised for the new school year.

Whether you’re sending your baby off to school for the first time or have the Back To School regime down to a fine art, preparing your child for the year ahead – whilst keeping your sanity – can be a daunting process.

Suddenly you’re forced to become an expert on supportive backpacks, shoes for growing feet, stationery items, book covering and lunchboxes.

As a parent, you want assurance that the products you’re purchasing are of the highest quality, suit your child’s needs and are the right choice for their personality and educational experience. But the idea of facing the shops with an endless Back To School list can be enough to send any parent running in the opposite direction.

Here we share our tips to help you navigate the Back To School experience.

1 – Do your research

Back To School is a busy time for retailers and shoppers, with lots of promotions, sales and discounts. Researching what’s on offer is a great way to help save time and prevent feeling overwhelmed by everything on sale.

Writing a list of items your child needs is a great way to ensure you don’t overspend or impulse buy, and it allows you to become familiar with the costs and features of products before you head in store.

You can also save time by shopping online.

2 – Get it right the first time

Children are on the go all day; running between glasses, playing during lunch, kicking footballs and just being kids! Because of their active lifestyle, it’s important to get their footwear right from the get go.

When purchasing school shoes, look for ones that have multi-fit features; that hug the contours of your child’s foot providing additional arch support and Dri-lex moisture management lining, keeping your child’s feet cool and dry even when they’re playing sports.

Quality material is also essential when considering shoes for your kids. Look for a genuine leather upper and sock, reinforced stitching around the toe area and a slip-resistant sole. For just $29, you can select the most suitable pair of shoes from a range which ticks all the boxes.

3 – Tailor to your child’s personality

Showcase your child’s personality and creativity by covering their notebooks with white adhesive sheets. Get them to paint or draw onto the covered books with their own designs – the more creative, the better!

Another way to show off your child’s personality is by purchasing their school items in their favourite prints; think hobbies or cartoon characters. These days you can purchase items like backpacks, lunchboxes and stationery sets in a wide variety of prints from surfing themes and block colours, to characters such as Spiderman, Peppa Pig and Bluey.

4 – Buy in bulk

Where possible, buy in bulk or items as part of a set. For instance, when looking for a backpack, purchase one that comes with additional features such as an iPad case, pencil case and wallet – that way you’re saving money and time!

Another great item to buy in bulk is stationery; consider sets that contain a mix of pens, pencils and markers, as well as staple items such as sharpeners, glue sticks, scissors and staplers. Target has a 42 piece set for just $5.00!

5 – Learning continues at home

Being prepared for Back to School goes well beyond the school gate; it’s a smart idea to set up a learning area at home to encourage after school learning and extra curricular activities. Maybe you invest in a desk for your child’s bedroom or set up a space in the home office? Filling this space with an affordable tablet or computer such as a Tablet, a whiteboard or blackboard, plenty of stationery and notebooks could encourage your child to complete homework and engage in learning outside of school.