Gearing up for Kindergarten

 Items you’ll need — and stuff he’ll want — for the first day of school.
A backpack. Look for something durable, water-resistant, easy to open and close, and comfortable (don’t saddle your kindergartner with a backpack designed to lug high school history books, for instance). A backpack adorned with faddish characters won’t age as well as a generic pack in your child’s favorite color. A safety reminder: Don’t emblazon your child’s name on his backpack, where every stranger can see it, but do be sure to include a nametag of some kind inside.
A lunchbox or bag. Make sure it’s water-resistant, easy to open and close, and roomy enough to fit a drink, a sandwich, and small containers for fruit and other snacks. For kids this age, skip thermoses that require pouring in favor of flip-top water bottles or juice boxes.
Lunch supplies. Stock up on individual serving sizes of healthy lunch foods and snacks, such as unsweetened apple sauce, mini raisin boxes, string cheese, and 100 percent juice boxes. And don’t forget to have on hand plenty of sandwich bags, small plastic containers, and aluminum foil.
Cubby items. If your child’s kindergarten has a daily “quiet time,” find out whether you need to provide a mat, and let your child pick out a small blanket or sleeping bag and pillow. If the school allows items from home, pack your child’s comfort object (provided it’s portable) to help calm his first-day jitters, and a change of clothes for those inevitable muddy days on the playground.
A new outfit or two. New clothes make going to school an event. Don’t forget to check last year’s rain boots and slicker for fit, and buy new ones if you need to.
Project supplies. Though it’s a little early for homework, your child may be asked to do a few projects during the year (with your assistance, of course), and he’ll almost certainly want to practice his new cutting, gluing, and coloring skills at home. So be sure to stock up on pencils, paper, scissors, and other school supply essentials.