Once girls hit the tween and middle school years, what’s inside their school backpack starts to change.
25 Things Every Tween Girl Needs in Her School Backpack
Of course, they still need the basics like notebooks, pencils, folders, and a water bottle, but suddenly there are a few other essentials they may want to have nearby, too.
Hair ties break. Lips get dry. Periods can arrive unexpectedly. Phones run out of battery. Lunch spills. And sometimes you just really need a piece of gum before walking into math class!
Having the right tween school essentials tucked inside a backpack can help girls feel prepared and confident throughout the school day.
If you’re getting ready for a new school year, here are 25 things every tween girl needs in her school backpack.
1. Pencil Pouch
Start with a cute pencil pouch to keep pens, pencils, erasers, and highlighters from disappearing into the bottom of her backpack.
2. Mechanical Pencils
Mechanical pencils are a middle school favorite because there’s no need to worry about sharpening them. Keep a few extras in the pencil pouch.
3. Colorful Pens
A pack of colorful pens makes taking notes, filling out a planner, and studying a little more fun.
4. Highlighters
Highlighters are one of those middle school backpack essentials she’ll use constantly for studying, worksheets, notes, and assignments.
5. Mini Notebook
Keep a small notebook handy for reminders, homework assignments, doodles, or anything she needs to quickly write down.
6. School Planner
Middle school often means juggling multiple teachers, assignments, tests, projects, and activities. A planner can help tweens learn how to manage their schedules independently.
7. Reusable Water Bottle
A leakproof water bottle is a must. Look for a size that fits comfortably in the backpack’s side pocket and isn’t too heavy when filled.
8. Easy Snack
After-school activities can make for a long day. Keep a granola bar, crackers, pretzels, or another school-approved snack tucked inside her bag.
9. Lip Balm
Lip balm might be one of the most-used backpack essentials for tween girls. Choose an inexpensive one that won’t be a big deal if it gets lost.
10. Hair Ties
You can never have too many hair ties! Keep several extras in a small pouch for gym class, sports, or those days when she suddenly wants her hair up.
11. Mini Hairbrush or Comb
A small folding brush or compact comb takes up very little room and can be useful after gym, recess, sports, or a windy bus ride.
12. Scrunchies
Keep an extra scrunchie in her backpack. It doubles as a cute accessory and an emergency hair tie.
13. Mini Deodorant
As girls enter the tween years, a travel-size deodorant can be great to have after gym class or on hot school days.
14. Period Emergency Kit
Even if your daughter hasn’t started her period yet, it’s smart to be prepared.
Create a discreet little pouch containing pads, liners, an extra pair of underwear, and a small zip-top bag.
This is one of the most important school backpack essentials for tween girls because she’ll know exactly where everything is if she needs it.
15. Tissues
A travel-size package of tissues is inexpensive, lightweight, and always good to have.
16. Hand Sanitizer
Attach a small hand sanitizer to her backpack or tuck one into a front pocket for easy access before lunch or snack time.
17. Bandages
Keep two or three adhesive bandages in a small emergency pouch. Blisters, paper cuts, and little scrapes happen!
18. Stain Remover Wipe
Ketchup on a white shirt five minutes into lunch? A couple of individually wrapped stain-remover wipes can save the day.
19. Breath Mints
If her school allows them, a small container of breath mints can be useful after lunch. Check school rules before packing gum.
20. Portable Phone Charger
If your tween is allowed to bring a phone to school, a small portable charger can be helpful for after-school activities, sports, or emergencies.
Make sure she follows her school’s rules regarding phones and electronic devices.
21. Earbuds or Headphones
Many schools use Chromebooks and tablets throughout the day. A pair of inexpensive earbuds in a protective case can prevent her from constantly searching for a pair.
22. Charging Cord
If students use school devices, keep the appropriate charging cord in a designated backpack pocket so it doesn’t get left at home.
23. Small Wallet or Card Holder
A slim wallet can hold a student ID, lunch card, library card, emergency money, or bus pass without taking up much space.
24. Emergency Contact Information
Even if important numbers are saved in her phone, tuck a small card into an interior backpack pocket with parent or guardian contact information.
If her phone dies or gets lost, she’ll still have the numbers she needs.
25. Small “Just in Case” Pouch
This might be my favorite tween backpack organization hack.
Instead of having little essentials scattered everywhere, create one zippered pouch filled with her personal must-haves.
You could include:
- Lip balm
- Hair ties
- Scrunchie
- Tissues
- Bandages
- Period products
- Deodorant
- Stain-remover wipe
- Hand sanitizer
She can simply move the pouch from her school backpack to her sports bag or overnight bag whenever she needs it.
How to Organize a Tween Girl’s School Backpack
The trick isn’t just having all these tween school essentials—it’s making sure she can actually find them!
Use different compartments for different categories. School supplies can go in the main section, technology in a padded compartment, snacks in a front pocket, and personal items in a small zippered pouch.
It’s also worth doing a quick backpack clean-out every Friday. Throw away old papers and wrappers, refill supplies, replace snacks, and make sure chargers and school materials are ready for Monday.
Middle school comes with a whole new level of independence, and a well-stocked backpack can help your tween feel ready for whatever her school day brings.
You certainly don’t need to pack every item on this list. Start with the school backpack essentials for girls that make sense for your daughter, her age, and her school’s rules.
The goal is simple: give her the supplies and little “just in case” items she needs so she can walk into school feeling organized, prepared, and ready for the day.
And if you’re shopping for the new school year, this list of 25 things every tween girl needs in her school backpack makes an easy back-to-school checklist to work through together.
