What our editors swear by for back-to-school season

From fidget toys to freezable lunch boxes. [Reviewed.com Logo]( [Thayer's blemish stick; digital notepad; Bento box] Photo by Thayers / Kobo / bentgo / Reviewed There are a lot of school supplies out there that promise to make the school year easy as pie. But what works, and what’s just a scam? Our editors (who are also parents!) share the things they actually use to make the entire day go smoothly, from the carpool drop-off to late-night homework sessions. Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed's editors. Purchases you make through our links may earn us a commission. EDITOR-APPROVED SUPPLIES #[Apple watch]( Tech to keep track of everything Managing tech editor John Higgins loves the [Apple Watch SE]( he got for his son. “It allows us to add him to our Find My device list (so we know, for instance, when he's getting back from a field trip to pick him up on time), he can message us if something important comes up, and we can set up reminders for him for important things, like taking medications.” [SHOP BACK-TO-SCHOOL TECH]( #[Container of rainbow and glitter putty]( A quiet-but-mighty fidget toy “This was certainly useful for my kiddo during a stressful time in 6th grade last year,” says gift guide editor Jeaneen Russell about [putty](. “While a lot of fidget toys can be noisy and distracting to other students, putty is quiet and became an effective sensory tool to ease his anxiety while in the classroom.” [SHOP FIDGET TOYS]( #[Black lunch box]( Keep their lunch cool as a cucumber Danielle DeSiato, managing editor of kitchen and appliances, swears by the [PackIt freezable lunch boxes](. “No matter which lunch box my kids choose (and they like to change it up sometimes), the freezable bag keeps everything inside cold all day! It means we’re not messing around with ice packs, which aren’t as effective and can easily get tossed or get lost.” [SHOP LUNCH BOXES]( #[Thayers's blemish stick]( It’s good to be prepared A hygiene kit is something that executive home editor Leigh Harrington highly recommends for tweens. “It helps ease anxiety, as in, it's a safety net and they know it's there if any problems pop up unexpectedly.” We’ve rounded up all the supplies they need to give them peace of mind, from haircare essentials to things to help them get through puberty. [SHOP HYGIENE KITS]( [Share with a friend]( [Subscribe]( [Visit us on Facebook!]( [Visit us on Instagram!]( [Visit us on Twitter!]( [Visit us on YouTube!]( [Visit us on Pinterest!]( [Reviewed Logomark]Reviewed is part of the USA Today network Reviewed 19 Brookline St Cambridge, MA 02139-4103 Copyright © 2024 Reviewed, All rights reserved. Is this email not displaying correctly? [View it in your browser](. [Update your email preferences]( or [unsubscribe from this list](