Once girls reach the tween and middle school years, there are a few extra things they may want to have tucked inside their backpacks.
A broken hair tie. An unexpected period. Spilled lunch. Chapped lips. A blister from new shoes. These little emergencies can feel like a very big deal when you’re sitting in the middle of math class!
What to Put in a Tween Girl’s School Emergency Kit
That’s why putting together a tween girl school emergency kit can be such a smart back-to-school idea.
A school emergency kit doesn’t need to be huge or expensive. All you need is a small zippered pouch filled with practical items your tween might need throughout the school day.
Not only does it help her stay prepared, but it can also give her a little extra confidence knowing she has what she needs if something unexpected happens.
If you’re wondering what to put in a school emergency kit for a tween girl, here are 20 useful essentials to consider.
1. Small Zippered Pouch
Start with a cute but discreet zippered pouch that fits easily inside her backpack.
A makeup bag, pencil case, or small travel pouch works perfectly. Look for something lightweight and easy to clean.
2. Period Pads
Even if your tween hasn’t started her period yet, keeping a couple of pads in her emergency kit can help her feel prepared.
Choose thin, individually wrapped pads that won’t take up much room.
3. Panty Liners
Add two or three individually wrapped panty liners, too. They’re compact and easy to keep in a period emergency kit for school.
4. Extra Underwear
An extra pair of clean underwear can be incredibly helpful if her period arrives unexpectedly or she has another wardrobe mishap.
Fold them tightly and place them inside a small zip-top bag.
5. Zip-Top Bag
Keep an empty zip-top bag in the kit for wet or stained underwear or clothing.
It takes up practically no room and can be incredibly useful.
6. Hair Ties
If your daughter has long hair, you already know how quickly hair ties disappear!
Keep several extras in her school emergency kit for gym class, sports, hot days, or whenever one breaks.
7. Scrunchie
Add a scrunchie for another quick way to pull her hair back. She can even keep it around her wrist if she prefers.
8. Mini Hairbrush or Comb
A folding hairbrush or travel-size comb is perfect for fixing hair after gym class, recess, sports, or a windy walk into school.
9. Lip Balm
Dry, chapped lips can be uncomfortable and distracting.
A simple lip balm is one of those tween girl backpack essentials she’ll probably reach for constantly.
10. Mini Deodorant
A travel-size deodorant can be especially helpful for middle school girls who have gym class or after-school sports.
Choose a small stick that won’t take up too much space.
11. Tissues
A travel pack of tissues is useful for runny noses, sneezes, spills, and countless other little emergencies.
12. Hand Sanitizer
A mini bottle of hand sanitizer is perfect for cleaning hands before lunch or after touching shared surfaces.
You can also attach one directly to the outside of her backpack for easy access.
13. Bandages
Paper cuts, blisters, and little scrapes happen.
Tuck a few individually wrapped adhesive bandages into the pouch. They barely take up any space.
14. Stain-Remover Wipes
Spaghetti sauce always seems to find the white shirt!
Individually wrapped stain-remover wipes are one of my favorite things to include in a middle school emergency kit because they’re small and can save an outfit after a lunch spill.
15. Face Wipes
A couple of individually wrapped face or body wipes can help your tween freshen up after gym class or on a particularly hot school day.
Choose gentle, fragrance-free wipes if she has sensitive skin.
16. Dental Floss Picks
Nothing is more annoying than having something stuck between your teeth after lunch.
A couple of individually wrapped floss picks are easy to tuck into the kit.
17. Breath Mints
If her school allows them, add a small container of breath mints.
They’re perfect for freshening up after lunch without taking up much room.
18. Mini Mirror
A small, unbreakable compact mirror can be helpful for checking her teeth, fixing her hair, or making sure lunch isn’t still on her face before heading back to class.
19. Safety Pins
A broken strap or popped button can happen at the worst possible moment.
Tuck two or three safety pins into a tiny container or secure them together so they don’t poke through the pouch.
20. Emergency Contact Card
Even if your tween has a phone, it’s smart to have important information written down.
Include a small card with parent or guardian phone numbers and another trusted emergency contact. Avoid putting unnecessary personal information on the card in case the kit gets lost.
How to Make a School Emergency Kit for Your Tween
Once you’ve gathered everything, organize the items inside a small pouch and let your tween decide where she’d like to keep it in her backpack.
It’s also a good idea to go through the school emergency kit for girls together. This gives you an opportunity to talk about periods, hygiene, and what she can do if she needs help during the school day.
Remind her that the school nurse is always a great resource, too.
Check the kit every month or two to replace anything she’s used and restock period products, wipes, tissues, and other essentials.
One Important Tip Before Packing Her Kit
Every school has different rules about what students can carry.
Before adding medications, pain relievers, nail tools, scissors, sprays, or other potentially restricted items, check your school’s policies. Many schools require medications to be kept and administered by the school nurse.
The Perfect Tween Girl School Emergency Kit
A tween girl school emergency kit doesn’t need to contain everything imaginable. The goal is simply to give your daughter a few essentials that can help her handle those unexpected little moments during the school day.
Start with the basics—period products, extra underwear, hair ties, deodorant, lip balm, tissues, bandages, and stain wipes—and customize the kit based on what your tween actually uses.
Best of all, putting the kit together can be something you do together before school starts.
She’ll head into the school year knowing that whether it’s a broken hair tie, unexpected period, lunch spill, or blister from her brand-new shoes, she’s got a few essentials tucked inside her backpack to help her handle it.
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