Every fall, back-to-school season is filled with excitement and a little nervousness. This year, those anxious flutters are amplified for teachers, parents, and students who are looking toward an uncertain year. Thankfully, Target has your back.
Whether you're preparing for in-person schooling, distance learning, or a hybrid of the two, Target is a one-stop-shop for answers. Plus, there are some pretty handy deals. Teachers can enjoy a 15 percent discount now through the end of August, and college students simply join Target Circle to save $5 on purchases of $20 or more. Parents can also use the store's "School List Assist" to figure out what they need to buy.
"Fall learning will look and feel very different this year — and families are balancing a lot," says Jill Sando, executive vice president and chief merchandising officer, Style and Owned Brands, Target. "We want our guests to know that we’re here for them, no matter what. So we’re doing what Target does best — listening to their changing needs and designing incredible, affordable products and safe, simple, stress-free shopping experiences."
Below, we've rounded up the most essential products to help teachers and parents alike navigate this busy season with ease.
For more shopping discounts, browse Real Homes deals.
- Check out Target's School List Assist (opens in new tab)
Magnetic storage boxes
Teachers and parents alike can get organized with these handy magnetic storage boxes (opens in new tab). Perfect for home or classroom library organization, multiple colors make a bright display that's helpful for categorizing papers. The polypropylene bins come in a set of 12, and they're an ideal size to hold books, files, and magazines.
Plastic supply caddy
If you don't have a designated arts and crafts space, these handy Plastic Supply Caddies (opens in new tab) are the way to go. Keep art supplies, school necessities, or smaller toys organized and out of sight. When you need them, a large handle makes it easy to transport to your workspace. Sturdy polypropylene is both tough enough for any weight and easy to wipe down. Bullseye's Playground sells them in a pack of four (in red, black, or blue) to organize all of your little one's school supplies.
Wood wall clips
In a pack of 10, these colorful wall clips (opens in new tab) are a must for school-aged children. A keyhole on the back offers easy hanging so you can create an organized wall display. Hang to-do lists, children's artwork, or plans for the week.
Crayola crayons
Let creativity fly with this colorful 64-pack of crayons from Crayola (opens in new tab). It also comes with a handy built-in sharpener to get more use out of each crayon. Keep these in their backpack for impromptu art projects. They're safe and non-toxic, and the whole pack is only $2.99.
Construction paper
What would the pack of crayons be without a giant box of construction paper? This 240-sheet set (opens in new tab) comes in 12 colors including red, pink, yellow, orange, green, blue, light blue, light green, purple, brown, white, and black. In a standard 9" by 12" size, the paper is roomy enough to cut out shapes, draw, and color. Work on arts-and-crafts projects at home or at school, homework assignments, and make handmade cards.
Unlined index cards
Index cards are a necessity to keep on hand. This pack of 100 (opens in new tab) is only 50 cents. Use them to reinforce remote or in-person schooling at home. For example, write foreign language words on the cards and place them next to everyday objects, like "agua" next to the faucet. Or, they're great for memorization studying or sight words for smaller children.
Colorful pens
Remember gel pens? These Paper Mate Flair Pens (opens in new tab) are an upgraded version, featuring a smear-resistant ink that doesn't bleed through the page. The medium point makes bold, colorful lines perfect for drawing, editing documents, color-coordinating weekly planners, or grading papers. Six candy-hued colors make any writing just a little more fun.
Construction table
For busy parents, distance learning is going to be all about self-sustaining activities. This Tot Tutors Activity Table (opens in new tab) is a live-saving purchase for just over $50. It features a play surface compatible with LEGO and Duplo building blocks. The center of the table also has a convenient storage area, where kids can easily stash blocks when they're done. Of course, the table also has a smooth cover that makes it ideal for arts and crafts, board games, reading, and any other fun activities.
The chair and table height is ideal for toddlers and preschool-aged children. The set-up gives little ones a sense of control and helps them become more independent — a must for working parents.
Read more:
- Back-to-school sales: The best bargains to buy now
