Non-Toxic + Holistic Back to School List
Whether you’re ready to admit it, or not… school is right around the corner.
This will be our first fall with a little one “starting school”— although we will be homeschooling. Here is what we are intentionally purchasing!
I cannot believe that I am writing this blog post— for two reasons, actually. First, my oldest is getting ready to start school in just over a month (i’ll share what we chose to do for school here soon), and second, that means summer is quickly coming to an end.
So I have found myself making lists, researching, and compiling a list of the things we are putting together to get ready for school before long!
A few notes on “non-toxic” + consumerism…
Before we dive in, let’s talk about consumerism, toxins, and my approach to wellness.. For me and my family, we prioritize holistic wellness and convenience. That means we choose nourishing foods, clean products, and are mindful of the ingredients we come in contact with— but not at the expense of our mental or emotional health. It’s not something I stress over and I’m not aiming for perfection here.
Some of our “back to school” list priorities:
minimize one-time plastic use- we try to minimize plastic use as much as possible, especially one-time use things
using what we have- the reason I am making this list so early is because I want to “shop my house” first. That means going through the drawers and closets to see if we have anything that we can use first before buying something new.
minimalism- less really is more, especially with kiddos! Not only is it a bit easier on your wallet, but it also helps to decrease all the stimulation and distractions in our kiddos’ lives.
longevity- I would rather buy something a little bit more expensive initially that is of higher quality, than purchasing a cheap alternative again and again.. which brings me to consumerism…
What Chemicals To Avoid In School Supplies:
Phthalates– Phthalates are a class of chemicals used in consumer products to make plastic and PVC soft and pliable, and they are also used as carrier oils for scented products, like scented school supplies (kid-friendly scented pencils, pens, and erasers, to name a few). Phthalates are established endocrine disruptors that are linked to adverse health issues. A 2018 review found that current human exposure to phthalates may have effects on the male reproductive system (1), and a 2021 study links phthalate exposure in children to cognitive impairment, hyperactivity, and anxiety and depressive behaviors (2).
PFAS– PFAS, short for Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, is a class of fluorinated chemicals that have water repellent, nonstick and stain-resistant properties. PFAS has been linked to certain types of cancer, as well as thyroid disease, obesity, weakened immunity and other health problems- these chemicals stay in our bodies and persist in the environment for a very long time (3).
Microban– Microban is a proprietary mix of chemicals that may contain Triclosan, an endocrine-disrupting chemical that can cause bacterial resistance. Microban is engineered to protect products from bacteria, mold and in some cases algae that can cause stains, odors and product deterioration. Microban is not designed to protect users from disease-causing microorganisms.
BPA, BPS and BPF– PVC may also contain traces of the endocrine-disrupting chemical Bisphenol-A (BPA). BPA is an endocrine disrupting chemical that interacts with hormones in the body. Plastic containers labeled “BPA-free” may contain other bisphenols, such as BPS or BPF, which have the same harmful properties as BPA.
PVC– PVC (aka Polyvinyl Chloride or vinyl) is a flexible plastic used widely in kids lunch gear. It can contain harmful chemicals like lead, phthalates and BPA/BPS. PVC has been linked with adverse health issues like asthma, learning disabilities, reproductive problems and cancer.
Lead- Lead is a stabilizer in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and has been detected on the interior and exterior linings of lunchboxes. Lead can be wiped off and transferred onto children’s hands and food. Lead is a neurotoxin that has an adverse effect on a child’s developing brain and nervous system (4).
Solvents in markers– Solvents off-gas and evaporate as the product is used, and kids may breathe in the fumes. Many dry erase markers and permanent markers contain benzene, xylene or other solvents, which cause neurotoxicity in children (5).
What we are doing for school this fall
My daughter is 4 so we will be starting “preschool”— I say that in quotes because we are actually going to be homeschooling! That was not the original plan to be honest, but it is the door the Lord has opened.. so we are going with it. Long-term, we are hoping to get into a local hybrid school where we get to enjoy the benefits of homeschooling and traditional school. We are currently on an active waitlist for a program and are just waiting to see if that opportunity should come to fruition. Until then, we have a little one who is so excited to start doing more intentional “schoolwork” at home with mom.
That also allows us to be a bit more gradual in purchasing a few things until we are off the waitlist and actually going to school. There are some things we are buying now (like a lunch box) for her to practice with, and other things like school clothes that I have on the list but will be waiting to purchase.
Our Non-Toxic + Holistic Back-to-School List
Now, this is a very minimal list for the things we are purchasing a prepping. Obviously, this is our first year doing anything school-related, so seasoned moms, I would love any advice or feedback you have!
Lunch + Snack Essentials
lunch box— i have talked about these lunch boxes for years and I still love them (and own the very first ones we ever purchased which can speak to their longevity and durability 👏) My favorite part is that the ice is built in to the lunchbox, which not only keeps things really cold throughout the day, but it eliminates all the pieces and parts you need to throw into the lunchbox in the morning.
bento box- we have used a stainless steel snack box for years and really love it for on-the-go. I opted for a new design for school lunches because it has a silicone band that keeps the top on!
reusable snack bags- we have an assortment of these from throughout the years. We have both silicone and fabric reusable snack bags and love them both for different things!
water bottle- we have one of these water bottles for each of our kiddos. We will continue using them for years to come because they are so durable.
School Supplies
Having little ones at home, we are already pretty well-stocked up on all our craft supplies! But we will be topping off some of our craft closet so that we have plenty to work with during “school time.”
our favorite non-toxic crayons- 100% New Zealand beeswax crayons that are designed for little hands (they also have “normal” crayon size for older kids)
glue and glue sticks- I like that this glue is low-fume and natural
backpack- we are holding off on purchasing any backpacks right now since we won’t be transporting anything to and from school. But when it is time, I will opt for something durable that we can hopefully have for a few years
Miscellaneous School Items
school clothes- again, this is something we are holding off on since we are starting the school year at home. Should we get a spot, we will need to purchase a couple of the school uniforms for her school days.
curriculum- we are following a hybrid school curriculum program, so didn’t have to make any decisions, which was really nice as a first-time homeschool fam
family calendar- we chose to invest in a skylight calendar to have in our kitchen. This will not only have our family agenda, but also our curriculum plan attached. Then everyone is on the same page!
Other Things to Holistically Prepare for School
With all the lists I have been writing and things I am prepping, I feel reminiscent of post-partum prep 🤪 But honestly, I feel like there are some things I want to nail down and prepare to make sure we are all set up for success! Here are a few things I am focusing on in August, to make sure we are ready to rock come September
Stock up on nourishing foods and snacks- Anytime I am anticipating “busyness”, I always want to prioritize quick and easy nourishment for my fam. This looks like a freezer full of nutrient-dense freezer meals, and a pantry full of things I can easily throw together for lunches and snacks. I also like having some pre-packaged nourishing snack options for on the go.
breakfasts- while brainstorming this list, I had the idea to meal prep some backup breakfast options. I think I will prep some breakfast sandwiches to have in the freezer for any busy mornings!
Have a family meeting on priorities- In the coming month, my husband and I will sit down and go over our family priorities. While we are taking a really minimal approach to homeschooling and curriculum (she is only 4!), we are committed to staying on schedule should she get accepted during the school year. While my husband will step in for some things, I will be primarily responsible for working through the curriculum during the week. That means we want to be sure that our expectations and commitments are aligned as we step into this new season.
Get back on schedule- over the summer, we are a lot more lax about bedtimes, nap times, and pretty much all of our routines.. we tend to eat out more because we are out doing stuff with friends and family. While that is great and I am so happy we have the opportunity for it, this next month I am hoping we can fall back into some of our rhythms, including:
weekly meal plans- I love love love having a set meal rotation that coincides with the seasons. It is such a mental help to have some consistency to our meals and planning!
home maintenance schedule- we have a rotating schedule of all the things we need to maintain our home and life: cleaning, laundry, groceries, etc.
At the time I write this, we are currently about 6 weeks from starting school.. and I am so excited! In our personal life, it has been filled with a lot of decisions so we are excited to finally have a plan in place! If I have any homeschool moms around, I would love all the advice and suggestions for having a smooth school year!
Kaelyn
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