"Get Ready for Kindergarten" Gift Ideas for Moms AND Kids!

Prepare kids AND Mom with these special kindergarten gift ideas!

f your little one is starting to kindergarten soon, I have the perfect way to get you both excited about the first day of school. School gift baskets are a fun way to both prepare for the new school year and transition from preschool to “big school.”

My youngest graduated from parents day out preschool and was super excited to join his big brothers in elementary school, but I know it’s not always easy for everyone.

I made him a “Get Ready for Kindergarten” gift pack, which made him feel special and get excited about things that are his very own. (No hand me downs!) I then thought how wonderful it would be to give a mom (or dad) of a kindergartener a gift pack to encourage them with this new journey!

I love how Walmart and Target and other retailers are making it super easy to shop school supplies early. You can even search your child’s school for their supply list and shop directly from the app. But, this kindergarten gift pack is a little different than just a collection of school supplies.

Get Ready for Kindergarten! Gift Ideas for Moms

For the gift pack for Mom, I chose a few things that would be appreciated and packaged them in a cute wire basket. The items I chose are:

Kleenex® – whether Mom is happy or sad on the first day of school, Kleenex makes the best everyday tissues with dependable strength and ultimate softness.
Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes – I decided to include these because Mom can choose to clean up easily and quickly after the kids are at school, or donate them to her child’s class! I know teachers always appreciate extra Clorox wipes, as they kill 99.9% of germs on hard, non-porous surfaces, when used as directed.
Paper Mate® InkJoy Gel Pens – I love these pens because they dry quickly to prevent smearing on the page. They also don’t require lids, because they are click pens! YES! Mom can use these for letters, journaling, writing down appointments on the calendar, shopping list, or doodling! They are just fun to use!
BAND-AID® Brand SKIN-FLEX™ Bandages – Great for kids and adults, active bandages have a 24-hour hold that lasts through handwashing and withstands damage and frays. (Use product as directed.) Use them for the little one’s boo-boos or any injuries Mom may get tackling those DIY projects!
A new notebook or planner – for all Mom’s lists and thoughts! I know it’s typical to think that Mom will have all of this “free time” when her littles start to school, but that could not be further from the truth! So much to do, so little time!
Flowers – because everything is made better with a fresh bouquet of flowers!
A sweet treat – Mom probably rarely gets a gift for her sweet tooth, so find out what her favorite is and include it in this back to school gift box!
A heartfelt note telling Mom that you are there for her if she needs you, and you’d love to get together for coffee!

Get Ready for Kindergarten Gifts for Kids!

Fun School supplies – special scissors in your child’s favorite color, a pencil box or bag that they love, and a backpack that they can get excited about all make the perfect gift.
Kindergarten practice workbooks – More for having fun while learning and practicing skills taught in kindergarten, these workbooks can provide a great bridge and helps kids to start thinking about letters and numbers, if they have not already, or keep fine tuning their skills!
“Kindergarten, Here I Come!” book, or other kindergarten books, encourage kids and help them imagine and understand what kindergarten might really be like!
Lunchbox items – new cups, bento boxes, or plastic ware make kindergarten more appealing. Younger siblings, like our son, enjoy getting something that is truly their very own!
Small, open-ended toys – While your child cannot take toys to school unless it is Show and Tell day, most likely, just having something new to play with can help ease anxieties and let them think about other things, like being a kid and having FUN! play food, blocks, squishy toys, etc can all be fun open-ended toys that can encourage kids to use their imaginations and ease their anxieties about school.
Water bottles – skip the Stanley for kindergarteners, but find a durable, insulated bottle that doesn’t have an exposed straw or spout, to help with germs.