As you know Jaidyn starts school in a few weeks. Everything has been bought apart from shoes which we'll get in a couple of weeks.
I'm a member of a US based parenting forum and some of the stuff they have to get their kids for starting school is unbelievable! Parents of kids starting Kindergarten (reception/primary1) are given a list of what they have to provide. It varies from school to school but this is a typical list:

1pkg 9x12 manilla paper
1pkg 12x18 manilla art paper
2 pkg #2 sharpened pencils (10-12 count)
2 boxes Crayola crayons-primary colors 24 ct
2 box Crayola washable markers
1 small plastic supply box
2 sets Crayola water color paints
1 pair scissors 5" sharp- fiskar style suggested
2 bottles elmers glue 4oz
4 small elmers glue sticks
2 vinyl folders with pockets and brads any color
4 folders with pockets and brads one each of red, blue, yellow and green
3 large boxes of facial tissue
1 box wet wipes
1 box resealable gallon baggies 20 count (boys)
1 box resealable quart baggies (girls)
2 composition notebooks
2 large pink erasers
1 bottle hand sanitizer 6-10 ounce size
1 pkg dizie cups 5 ounce size 100 count
backpack (no wheels)

I can't believe they are brand specific as well! I mean Crayola is the one most expensive ranges for crayons and stuff! By my reckoning there is about £100 worth of stuff on that list due to the brands they insist on! Granted most don't have a uniform to buy, but even taking that into account there is still an extra £40+ being spent on the other side of the pond for a 5 year old starting out at school!!!
As the kids go through the school, the lists get more ridiculous!!!!

_________________

Wow that's a long list. You'd think if they were going to specify a brand they would choose ones a bit cheaper to make it affordable for all families.

_________________

That's Stupid. What if you if dont provide the exact brand for your child - do they get bullied?
What an expense just to start school. I assume they suggest places to get the books etc - cos outwith teaching I wouldn't know where to buy them.
Glad we live in Sunny Scotland then eh?
xx

_________________

Blimey! If they've all got exactly the same stuff then how do they know whos is whos... Unless at the start of the year they fill up the art cupboard etc and then all use them all through the year - which means that the school saves LOOOOAAADDDDSSS of money by not buying any of this stuff!

wow that is a very long list im glad i live in the uk too

_________________

Apparently everything gets labelled, unless it's for 'class use' Yes certain stuff like hand sanitizer and tissues gets shared! Teachers have a supply cupboard for kids who don't have everything on the list! Sheesh talk about an easy way to tell what kids have no spare cash at home!
Also, in some schools, parents are expected to provide a snack for the whole class. I know that it works out the same whether you provide your child with a snack every day or the whole class every few weeks, but what if kids have allergies etc?! Well one of my online friend's son has a dairy allergy, so she provides his snack daily, but she is still expected to provide for the whole class when it's her turn! So she's spending twice as much as other parents!

_________________

nightmare, i wouldnt even know what some of those are for!
glad im inthe uk, clothing is easy to get hold of!

now i have another reason not to move to america, along with the spiders!

_________________

Why do the erasers/rubbers need to pink exactly? Surely, regardless of the colour they all do the same job!

_________________

Teacher's favourite colour?

_________________