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Back to school stationery essentials for 2021

Give your kids a reason to be excited about heading back to school with fun and colourful new stationery.

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Stephanie Yip
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From funky pencil cases to novelty notebooks, picking out new stationery can get kids invested in heading back to school for another year. With a range of retailers to choose from, you can find the perfect back-to-school stationery to put a smile on their faces and make getting them back into school-mode a little easier.

If you're on a tight budget and can't afford anything fancy, that's okay. There are loads of deals out there that offer impressive value for money while still letting your child keep up with the latest trends.

If you're after more back to school essentials, you can also check out our top pick of school backpacks for all ages, or see all the latest back to school shopping offers on now.

Where to buy school stationery

Shopping for back to school stationery

If you've been too busy these school holidays to make a list of your child's stationery needs for the year ahead, we've got you covered. Whether you're shopping for essentials, or just something fun for a little added motivation this school year, check out our top picks:

Pencil cases

ProCase Two Layers Big Capacity Pencil Pouch
ProCase Two Layers Big Capacity Pencil Pouch

Amazon

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Notebooks

S&P X Disney Notebook Mickey Leo Blue A5
S&P X Disney Notebook Mickey Leo Blue A5

David Jones

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Pens, pencils and more

Crayola! Take Note 6 Pack Washable Gel Pens
Crayola! Take Note 6 Pack Washable Gel Pens

Target Australia

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Crayola Take Note! 6 Pack Erasable Highlighters
Crayola Take Note! 6 Pack Erasable Highlighters

Target Australia

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Paper Crane 5 Pack Slim Ballpoint Pens - Pink & Lilac
Paper Crane 5 Pack Slim Ballpoint Pens - Pink & Lilac

Target Australia

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Scribbles Stationery Colouring Pencils 12-Pack - Multi
Scribbles Stationery Colouring Pencils 12-Pack - Multi

Catch

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Scentco Smencils Scented Coloured Pencils 10-Pack
Scentco Smencils Scented Coloured Pencils 10-Pack

Catch

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Other essentials

Dymo LetraTag 100H Handheld Labeller
Dymo LetraTag 100H Handheld Labeller

Target Australia

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Paper Crane A3 Weekly Planner Pad
Paper Crane A3 Weekly Planner Pad

Target Australia

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Hunter Studio Washi Tapes - 16 Rolls
Hunter Studio Washi Tapes - 16 Rolls

Target Australia

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Stationery buying guide

Follow these simple steps to find useful stationery that your kids will love:

  1. Choose colourful items. Kids are attracted to bright colours, so choose stationery that features cartoon characters or their favourite colour. It will help them easily distinguish between notebooks for different classes and might even encourage them to do their homework!
  2. Get quality items. Purchase products that will last at least a year. This will ensure that your child's schooling won't be interrupted by broken spiral notebooks or pencil cases.
  3. Choose simple, useful items. Minimise the amount of stationery your child has to carry by shopping items like 4-colour pens, and make their lives easier by grabbing a binder to help keep all their notebooks together.
  4. Find a reputable shop. There are countless retailers that sell stationery, so look for ones that offer a combination of affordability, style and quality. The amount you need to shell out for pencils, notebooks and staplers can start to add up, so you want items that will give you your money's worth.

Stationery for primary school

Even in their early schooling years, your child will need a set of stationery that will take them from colouring-in to improving their writing skills. Here are some handy hints for the best stationery to suit their first few years:

  • It will take some time before kids start learning to write with pens, so ensure they're stocked up with a range of pencils. Getting a multi-pack of colourful pencils will help bring out their creative side. Don't forget to grab an eraser or two so they can learn from their mistakes.
  • Learning to write can be a challenging task. Make life easy by purchasing A4 notepads to give your child more room to improve.
  • Kids will likely be doing a lot of cutting and pasting throughout their primary years. Keep little fingers safe with a pair of safety scissors and save some cash by buying glue sticks in bulk.

Stationery for high school

The further your child progresses through their schooling, the more their stationery needs will grow. Ensure they have everything they need by bearing these things in mind:

  • Note-taking will be a huge part of your child's day-to-day workload, so make sure they have plenty of pens to keep the ink flowing. While their days of colouring-in are long gone, pencils are still needed for some subjects such as art and design and technology. Double-check their schedule with them before the year starts so they can start their classes with the right equipment.
  • Another staple item they will fly through in no time is notebooks. Buy these in bulk because you know they'll forget to tell you that they're running low until the very last minute.
  • The further into their mathematics studies they progress, the more your kids will need a calculator. Get value for money by ensuring they're set with a good scientific calculator that will see them through to graduation (don't forget to stock up on batteries).

More back to school guides

Main image: Getty Images

Best deals on stationery

SurfStitch
Deal

$20 off when you sign up

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Typo
Deal

Free shipping

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Typo
Deal

Buy stationary and gifts

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Popular Back to school - stationery coupon codes

Last checked Code description Code
7 Apr 2021 $20 off when you sign up ********
24 Jul 2019 Free shipping ********
24 Jul 2019 Buy stationary and gifts ********

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