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Supplies to keep your kids safe
For back-to-school shopping this year, you will need more than the usual No. 2 pencils and glue sticks. It’s a whole new world at school and day care due to COVID-19, and even homeschool learning pods and playdates require a lot more safety precautions than ever before. To help lessen germ exposure, we’ve rounded up the best in face coverings, hand sanitizers, washable lunch gear, water bottles, mask lanyards and other products to keep your electronics germ-free.
Scroll through the arrows above for the list of essentials.
Masks
Masks will definitely be a requirement when going out for some time to come. Here are a few options, ranging from a set of five for a once-weekly washing to Disney and animal themes. Find more places to get masks for kids here.
A note on cleaning masks:
According to the CDC, reusable masks should be washed after each use. You should also wash your hands carefully after touching a used mask. You can find more instructions on washing and caring for your family’s masks on the CDC website.
School mask pack
Get this set of five masks from Crayola, one for each school day, plus a mesh bag for washing. They come in a variety of colors and designs for adults and kids and are water-repellent and adjustable.
Cubcoats
These cute bear cub masks are designed for kids ages 4 and older and come in packs of two. They have two layers and are machine-washable.
Disney masks
Disney is offering face masks in packs of four in both kid and adult sizes. Choose from Star Wars, Marvel, Mickey Mouse designs and more. Be sure to take measurements before ordering.
Mask lanyards
It’s so easy to lose a mask, or just set it down on a dirty surface. A mask lanyard can be both a mask saver and a fashion accessory.
Safety lanyard with breakaway buckles
You’ll want to keep kids from losing their masks on a daily basis, but a neck string can be a safety concern for younger children. These breakaway mask lanyards serve as a mask keeper and an adjuster for a custom fit without ear pressure. You can even get a name engraved on the adjuster disk.
Personalized kids lanyard
Make it their own with their name spelled out in beads, plus a gummy bear charm. The clasps fit both disposable masks and cloth masks.
Beaded mask chain
Older kids and teens will love this bright, beaded mask chain.
Water bottles
No parent wants their kid’s water bottle sitting on a desk uncovered during cold, flu and COVID-19 season. Here are a few options for washable bottles with spout covers or retractable straws.
Munchkin Cool Cat
For toddlers 18 months and older
The Cool Cat cup is stainless steel and holds 8 ounces. The lid closes to protect the straw and it has handles on either side for two-handed drinking. It’s also BPA-free and dishwasher-safe.
Contigo Auto Spout
For elementary-age kids
This stainless steel insulated bottle from Contigo can handle getting dropped on the floor and has a spout cover to keep germs out. At 10 ounces in capacity, it’s perfect for younger children and is also dishwasher-safe for cleaning.
Contigo Auto Water Spout Bottle
For tweens and Teens
Contigo Auto Spout water bottles come in sizes ranging from 24–40 ounces and in a rainbow of colors. The straw pops out with the click of a button and the cup is dishwasher-safe. At $12 bucks, it’s not too expensive to replace when your kid’s bottle is inevitably lost or left behind.
Washable lunch boxes
You are going to want to clean everything when the kids come home from school, including their lunch gear. A lunch box that goes in the dishwasher or can be wiped down after each use will make life a little easier.
PlanetBox
These stainless steel compartment lunch boxes are easy to clean daily in the dishwasher. They come in a variety of sizes and offer fun magnets for personalization. The compartments make it easy to pack a well-balanced meal.
Insulated EZ Wipe lunch box
Land’s End brands are known for durability and they’ve upgraded this lunch box with sturdier zippers and a seamless interior that is easily wiped clean. With a variety of colors and personalization options, this lunch box will please both kids and parents.
Hand sanitizer
Green Goo
For a nontoxic, unscented hand sanitizer, try Green Goo. Made with plant-based ingredients, it comes in a variety of sizes, including a 16-ounce bottle with a pump for refilling smaller bottles.
Touchland power mist hand sanitizer
This product is touted by celebrities and also claims to be gentle on the hands. You can get these individually or in fun bundles (stars and stripes, fresh, juicy, rainbow), and the company sells a silicone case that can attach to your key ring or backpack.
Refillable hand sanitizer bottles
Once you find your fav sanitizer brand, you can fill these cute bottles up over and over. Eliminate throwing away those tiny bottles. Plus, kids will love the dinosaur and panda motifs.
Cleaning kits
Clean hands can quickly become contaminated when you pick up your phone or tablet. Disinfecting handheld devices at least daily is a good idea.
Microfiber cloth
For phones, first, turn off the device and then remove it from the case. Next, wipe it down with a microfiber cloth to remove surface dirt and oils. Disinfect by wiping with a Clorox or Lysol wipe, avoiding the ports.
OtterBox mobile device care kit
For on-the-go cleaning, this kit is small enough to fit in a pocket or bag. The microfiber cloth and 70 percent alcohol wipes can quickly disinfect a phone or tablet.
PhoneSoap
UV light is another way to disinfect phones. PhoneSoap contains two UV-C bulbs that kill 99.9 percent of germs. It also has a port for charging while sanitizing. It’s made for smartphones, but will also disinfect whatever you can fit inside, such as keys or pacifiers.
UV-Clean portable sanitizer
At 8 by 4.1 inches, this UV sanitizer is good for larger objects, such as glasses, remote controls or your phone. Equipped with four UV-C bulbs, it disinfects objects in just a minute.
