Back-to-school: The big stationery shop

As a child one of the most exciting activities of the summer holiday was buying stationery for the coming school year. Mum would have the list from school, and I’d go with her to the store to ‘help’. There were the essentials - new notebooks for each subject on which I’d carefully write my name in my very best handwriting. The personalizeable - cute erasers, coloured pens, and a pencil case to keep them all in. And the luxuries – A 36 pack of coloured pencils when others had 12 meant I was always popular when someone wanted ‘peach’ or ‘gold’ for their picture.

But the most important purchase for any 90’s child was the Duraseal you were going to cover your books with. Did I want psychedelic swirls? Ice cream? Space theme? And could I get a name label to match?

The list of items for each grade grew longer and more expensive as you grew older… scientific calculators, protractors, sewing fabric, photographic paper, cooking ingredients, violin rental….. for large families on a budget it was a real struggle.  

Preparing for the hidden costs at Dubai private schools

Dubai parents need to be extra vigilant when choosing a school to understand what tuition fees include, and what they do not. Some schools try to simplify things for parents by including stationery, one or two extra-curricular activities, extended after school care, and maybe a set of uniform in the fees. Others will have everything as an add on, with optional extras like lunches, bus, and field trips on top. Then there are associated costs like birthday presents for friends, special dress up days and gifts for teachers.

At Navigate.Ed we encourage parents to be very realistic when setting their budget, and what it needs to cover. The KHDA (Dubai’s education regulator) helps ensure transparency through a mandatory Fees Fact Sheet for each school and grade level. It outlines what tuition fees include, additional costs parents can expect, as well as application fees, deposits, and possible discounts. It’s an essential tool to help families understand the real cost of schooling — and avoid overextending themselves financially. Reviewing it carefully can help you plan not just for the upfront expenses, but also for consistent cash flow throughout the year.

Top tips for back to school prep

Want to make your child’s teacher love you? Here are some additional things to prepare over the summer that you can’t buy in a stationery store.

1.        Name EVERYTHING. Clothes, pens, pencils, backpack, water bottle, towel for swimming, hat worn as part of your Book Day character costume. EV-ER-Y-THING. Check items periodically to see that labels haven’t faded or fallen off.

2.        Teach responsibility Your child is responsible for the belongings they take to school – not their teacher or parent. If something’s lost or misused, create clear consequences and follow through.

3.        Practice at home Can your child open their lunchbox? Refill their water bottle? Put the cap back on the glue stick? Tie their shoes? Use scissors safely? The more independent they are, the smoother the school day will be and the more time they’ll have to focus on learning.

4.        Create a daily checklist

Support your child to pack their school bag each day with a checklist near the door or fridge (use pictures for pre-readers). Make them accountable to go through it each morning to be sure they have everything they need.  Bonus points for checking they take everything home again.

5.        Keep bags light A child’s backpack should weigh no more than 10–15% of their body weight. Most schools offer lockers or cubbies for items like pencil cases and spare clothes that don’t need to go home each day. Trolley bags are rightfully banned in some schools — they can be unsafe on stairs and in crowded hallways, take up classroom space and add extra weight, and encourage overpacking.

6.        Skip the extras

Jewellery, keychains, trading cards, and toys often become distractions — or worse, get lost or stolen. Leave anything expensive or unnecessary at home.

Back-to-school season can be overwhelming — emotionally and financially — but a little planning can make all the difference. At Navigate.Ed, we’re here to help parents understand the details, anticipate hidden costs, and make confident, informed choices for their children’s education. Contact us today if you need help making this year's back-to-school your smoothest yet.