A parent's guide: Do's and don'ts

2026-05-30

Some, or even all, of the tips listed below may seem obvious, but it will be hard not to recognize ourselves in at least one of them. Let's begin.

Fathers, do not disappear. The back-to-school list is not a classified document, nor is it a ritual reserved for mothers. You can take part. You can even lead the process without any fear. In fact, doing so will set a powerful example for your children: for boys, so they do not stay on the sidelines in future generations; and for girls, so they reject unsupportive attitudes in adulthood. Mothers, share the task and let fathers take part in back-to-school preparations.

The sooner, the better. Do not wait until calendar pressure forces you to act. If you can, sort it out before going on holiday rather than when you come back. You will avoid queues, uncertainty, and perhaps even guilt. Again, it is a great example for our children: do not procrastinate, and deal early even with the tasks we do not particularly feel like doing.

Give it time and keep an unmistakably positive attitude throughout the process. If you simply execute the task and swipe the credit card, the value your children perceive will be whatever remains after removing the economic value, which they neither notice nor should have to notice. In other words, if books are just a nuisance for us to get out of the way, it will be hard for them to see any value in the materials. If, on the other hand, we get involved in the process, look for a used copy, and pay attention beyond doing the bare minimum required by a simple errand, it will be easier for children to understand that books have value. It is difficult for someone who lives outside the economy to understand the purely economic value of something, even if we keep pointing out the price. Children do understand the value adults perform around something.

Everything can change. Even if last year you bought the books in a certain way, that does not bind you this year or next year. If previous years were neither comfortable nor quick, this year will probably be similar unless you change the way you buy. For the school, what matters is that the student has the right materials on the first day. The specific store where you buy them should not be a disguised test of loyalty and obedience.

If school supplies, such as pencils, pencil cases, and other consumables, have to be replaced every year, or if we replace them just for convenience, something deeper is not working.

If you are looking for ways to save on the list, you can find more options here: How to save money on school books