School Shopping Diskarte for Back-to-School Season

It’s back-to-school season! These days are buzzing with excitement as families prepare for the new school year. While’s it’s an exciting time, it can also be a bit overwhelming for parents.

Parents need to figure out new school schedules, enrollment procedures, school requirements, baon, and school supplies.

To help lighten the load, Smart Parenting has curated a back-to-school shopping guide that’s practical, easy, and doable.

Whether you’re still shopping for school supplies or your child has already started school, this list can serve as a helpful guide for everything you need this back-to-school season. Prices, online stores, and parents’ reviews for each product are included.

In Smart Parenting Village, one of the most frequently requested school supply recommendations is a school bag. It’s an everyday item that children bring to school and one that can easily wear out over time. With books, notebooks, pencils, and even lunch boxes inside, having a durable school bag is essential. Since it is also one of the pricier school items, investing in a bag that can last for years is extemely helpful.

Erika Joy Lombres shared, “Noong April pa kami nakabili ng bag, my reco is Robby Rabbit.”

Robby Rabbit is one of the most recommended school bag brands among Smart Parenting Village parents. Many report that their Robby Rabbit bags last anywhere from four to six years.

Here are some Robby Rabbit options to consider:

To minimize the costs associated with going out, including meals, gas, parking, Grab fares, and transportation expenses, many parents prefer buying notebooks and other school supplies online.

One parent shared, “Nag-order na ako ng ibang gamit online, yung mga notebook sa school.” Another parent said, “Bumili ako ng ibang gamit din online from Pandayan Plus at namili ng iba pa sa National Bookstore. Sa books naman, 3 lang yung books ng Grade 4 ko. Sa Shopee ko na lang din binili kasi almost P2,000 kapag sa school ko bibilhin.”

Another parent shared a practical approach to school supply shopping: “Splurge sa quality ng susuotin, save sa consumable supplies.” That’s a helpful tip for parents working within a budget.

Here are some online stores for notebooks, paper, and other school supplies, whether for one-time shopping or year-round replenishment:

• National Bookstore on Lazada

• Pandayan Bookshop on Lazada

Kids’ school shoes often need to be replaced every year because they get worn out quickly and children are still growing.

One parent shared how she sources different school supplies: “Sa bag, ang diskarte ko, humahanap ako ng mga mall pullout sa Shopee. Lumang design na siya pero from SM. Sa 2 trolleys ng kids ko, naka-Php 1,500 lang ako.”

She added, “Paunti-unti ko rin binili sa Shopee yung mga maliliit lang na price like yung sando pang-loob, mga erasers, socks, towel sa likod. Yung shoes, from SM Department Store ko binili. Diskarte ko naman po tiisin kahit pricey kasi matibay naman. Isa lang sa 2 kids ko ang binilhan, yung papasok pa lang sa nursery. Kasi yung sa upcoming kinder ko, both black and rubber shoes from last SY ay matibay at maganda pa.”

Another parent shared, “Shoes ng anak ko na Grade 12, Florsheim almost P9,000 na. Hirap kasi hanapan ng shoe size niya, US 13. Kaya kung ano na lang ang available, basta matibay. Yan pa lang ang nabili ko sa kanya so far.”

Other parents also recommended a specific shoe brand for rainy days because it is both is durable and affordable. One parent shared, “Duralite shoes po, durable shoes sa tag ulan for boys.”

Here are online stores for kids’ school shoes:

• Duralite for rainy days (Starts at Php 179 on Lazada) 

• Florsheim, Leather Shoes (Php 6,300 on Lazada) 

• Gibi Shoes, Leather Shoes (Starts at Php 1,800 on Lazada)

Another school item that often gets recommendation requests is a tumbler. Aside from school use, tumblers are everyday essentials for many families.

One SPV parent asked, “Pa-share po ng tumbler, yung tumatagal yung lamig. Tsaka, yung hindi madaling mag-crack kahit ilang beses nababagsak.”

A good tumbler should be durable, safe for drinking, BPA-free, and able to maintain temperature effectively.

Mhean Galura-Brusas recommends Owala: “Owala tumbler po, ilang years na yun sa anak ko, okay na okay pa kahit lagi ring nababagsak.”

Another parent shared, “Tyeso number 1 pagdating sa tumbler. As in hanggang kinabukasan malamig, legit yan.”

These are tumblers recommended by SPV parents:

• Owala (Starts at Php 1,790 on Shopee) 

• Tyeso (Starts at Php 369 on Lazada) 

• Aquaflask (Starts at Php 600 on Lazada)

Many parents may not immediately recognize the need for a printer, but once school starts, it can be incredibly useful. A printer is handy for school requirements, supplemental learning materials, and activities for your child.

Whether its practice handwriting with downloadable worksheets, reviewing math lessons, or completing other paper-and-pen activities for screen-free learning, having a printer at home can be a big help.

Here are printer options recommended by SPV parents:

One parent shared, “Canon printer sa shopee. From P12,595 original price, I got it for P7,388 with a voucher. May libre pang mga ink.”

The printer includes print, scan, and copy features. Canon printers on Shopee start at P13,895.

Smart Parenting’s Managing Editor, Em Cruz, also recommends a Brother printer, which comes with print, scan, copy, and wireless printing features. Brother printers on Shopee start at P16,950.

Socks may seem like a small school supply, but since kids wear them every day, quality matters. Parents from Smart Parenting Village shared their recommended school socks based on years of experience.

One parent asked, “Since malapit na po ang pasukan, anong socks ang gamit niyo sa mga anak niyo? Mag-Grade 4 and Grade 1 sila sa pasukan. Yung hindi sana naghihimulmol agad?”

Most parents recommended ORO socks.

One parent shared, “ORO socks, tried and tested sa daughter ko for 2 years now.”

Other parents agreed, noting the socks’ affordability and anti-odor feature. ORO socks are available on Shopee.

Other sock recommendations include Darlington and Burlington.

For parents who don’t have the luxury of time, this school supply comes highly-recommended.

Em shared, "Ever since I started using self-adhesive book covers for books and notebooks, I haven't gone back to plastic covers and tape. They're so easy and efficient to use. Just measure, cut, stick, and you're done. I usually buy mine from Shopee because they're often more affordable there than in bookstores."

These wrappers are extremely helpful and can save parents a lot of time. Instead of measuring and cutting plastic covers one by one, you simply wrap each book or notebook, and it’s ready to use. They’re also waterproof and dirt-resistant.

Check out self-adhesive book and notebook wrappers on Shopee. Prices start at P35.

These family-friendly gadgets are built for productivity and entertainment.