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Original poster

Secondary School Survival Kit

38 replies

Ilovewheelychairs · 12/08/2019 13:20

Hi hive mind!

I want to create a secondary school survival kit for my lovely Godson who is starting in September and who isn't looking forward to it at all. He's a very anxious child and unfortunately the settling in days didn't go brilliantly for him either.

So far I have:

A notebook
Some nice pens/pencils/highlighters
A stress ball to keep in his pocket/bag
A Costa voucher to take some new friends out with
A memory stick
Maybe a journal/diary of some sort?

Are there any other genius suggestions? Or anything in the above you wouldn't put in for any reason?

Many thanks in advance!

OP posts:
GreenTulips · 12/08/2019 13:22

Wallet with spare change
Phone credit
Sharpeners rubbers science calculator
Phone charger will make him popular
Deodorant for his PE bag

Original poster
Ilovewheelychairs · 12/08/2019 13:31

Thanks so much. He isn't allowed a mobile phone yet so don't want to go against his parents! Other ideas are fab though thanks, added to the list!

OP posts:
AzraiL · 12/08/2019 13:53

Spare socks in case they get wet (in wet weather).
Small pack of tissues.
Deoderant.
Packet of mints.
Lip balm.
Maybe a small hair comb or brush if he gets fussy about his hair.
Change for the canteen.

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AzraiL · 12/08/2019 13:55

Also you can get a travel size bottle of sunblock for him to carry around just in case.

AtleastitsnotMonday · 12/08/2019 13:59

Nice snacks maybe a few larger bits that he could share.
One of the springy or retractable key chains for locker and door key.

AtleastitsnotMonday · 12/08/2019 14:00

Cool metal water bottle
(Although I’d probably check with mum that she hasn’t already gone out and bought all this stuff!

Original poster
Ilovewheelychairs · 12/08/2019 14:03

Thanks so much for the suggestions!

Mum is not very interested in Godson unfortunately and favours younger brother hugely (a whole other thread). She hasn't bought him anything already other than uniform and have checked with her that it's okay for me to do this so all good on that front.

Some brilliant suggestions I'd not thought of so thank you so much!

OP posts:
themimi · 12/08/2019 14:04

Make sure deodorant is roll on as sprays are banned in most schools as they set off fire alarms.

CraftyGin · 12/08/2019 14:05

We aren’t allowed memory sticks in school any more, students and staff.

Original poster
Ilovewheelychairs · 12/08/2019 14:07

Thanks for that CraftyGin. I'm a teacher and hadn't come across the no memory sticks thing so good to know not to buy one just in case!

OP posts:
MargotsFlounceyBlouse · 12/08/2019 14:10

Small decent umbrella, a small wallet with a zip for money (even if the school is cashless a bit of spare change can be handy especially if he's not got a phone.

Maybe you could even offer to get him a phone? He might not have be allowed up to now but secondary school is a step change. It might be the cost that's putting his mum off.

Original poster
Ilovewheelychairs · 12/08/2019 14:18

Margots I have offered to buy him a phone. There have been a variety of reasons given for why he can't have one even for secondary school, including the fact that younger brother will want one and they don't want him to have one yet, and the fact that they insist his behaviour is so bad that he doesn't 'deserve' one (not true, younger brothers behaviour is far worse).

Although the way they treat both boys is uneven and unfair I don't feel I have the right to go against what is their parenting decision on that, so I'm trying to stick to stuff that I know won't be offensive but at the same time feels like a treat for my Godson x

OP posts:
Original poster
Ilovewheelychairs · 12/08/2019 14:32

Just checked again. Mobile phone is an absolute no go for them x

OP posts:
youarenotkiddingme · 12/08/2019 14:35

Would he be allowed an iPod instead of phone? Can still access via WiFi friends and things. If he's anxious then socially being excluded will not help - poor boy Sad

What about a set of IOU cards.

So IOU a coffee and cake, a t shirt, trip to cinema etc. So if and when he needs to chat/ new too for a party etc he can just cash these in rather than having to make it a 'thing' he needs to talk.

What about a go Henry card? Are you in a position to put (eg £5) a week on there for him to use if mum doesn't stock up lunch card or to save for going out?

With regards a survival kit of things for school then the ideas above are great. Some schools provide a planner but a week to view planner or whiteboard for home is extremely useful.

Original poster
Ilovewheelychairs · 12/08/2019 14:38

Youarenotkiddingme I love the IOU ideas! And the Go Henry card too. Not sure about iPod but also not sure I can afford one of those for him at the moment either. I bought him a Kindle Fire for his last birthday (which constantly gets confiscated but that's another story) and that has WiFi; do you think that will be okay until I can afford a cheapish iPod for him?

OP posts:
RomaineCalm · 12/08/2019 14:40

Set of metal protractor/set squares (saw it suggested on here as they don't get broken like plastic ones)

New pencil case so that he can keep a set of pens etc. at home as well as in his bag.

Padlock for locker with combination lock rather than a key.

Could you put it all in a new rucksack for him - I'm sure that there will be recommendations here for something that is 'Y7 cool'.

youarenotkiddingme · 12/08/2019 14:48

Oh yes kindle fire sounds fine. And you sound lovely!

NeverGotMyPuppy · 12/08/2019 14:51

All the glue!

Nousernameforme · 12/08/2019 15:01

Scientific calculator if his mum hasnt got one already he will need one

mummmy2017 · 12/08/2019 15:06

Always worth doing him the bus fare home and tell him to let you know if he has to use it... Mine lent it too friends so many times, when a ticket was lost.
Also 50p and your numbers written down on envelope....

Original poster
Ilovewheelychairs · 12/08/2019 15:15

All amazing suggestions thanks.

I would love to see more of him but unfortunately I currently live 200 miles away. He doesn't like chatting on the phone but I write to him every other week. Luckily he has Grandparents he adores and who adore him and they actually live closer to the school than he does so I would think he'll walk there most evenings.

I'm trying to keep out of the family stuff and just do nice things for him when I am able, but the news this week that they went on their family holiday without him because he apparently said crossly that he didn't want to go on the morning they went (because he had to get up at 5am!) so they just dumped him on his Grandparents doorstep and left him behind, has really broken my heart. I love the bones of that kid.

OP posts:
Chilledout11 · 12/08/2019 15:15

So sweet of you op. Nice hat (something fashionable) for the autumn weather. Asos might be a good bet

Chilledout11 · 12/08/2019 15:17

The holiday situation was awful. 😪

ThePhoenixRises · 12/08/2019 15:50

If possible instead of buying all this stuff and posting it.

I would be going to see him and taking him shopping in person.

GreenTulips · 12/08/2019 16:09

Has he got a gum shield?
Kids are into rubix cubes and packs of cards for lunch times
If you get sun block buy the boots solid stick as it’s like a roll on.

Can you go online and see what they need for his particular school? An extra tie for example? Or those shin protectors?

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