How to Label School Supplies the Easy Way

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We’re only halfway through summer here in Minnesota but, before we know it, a new school year will be starting. And before that, there’s back-to-school shopping. Not to mention figuring out the best way to label the school supplies so they don’t disappear after the first week.

Well, I have great news for you! There’s a simpler (and prettier!) way to put your kids’ names on their belongings instead of writing with a permanent marker. And that’s what we’re here to talk about today.

So without delay, let’s talk about labeling school supplies the EASY way.

name bubbles labels; text that reads: how to label school supplies the easy way

This post was sponsored by Name Bubbles.

What’s the Easiest Way to Label School Supplies?

The easiest way to label school supplies is to attach personalized name labels. We love Name Bubbles labels because:

They are washable.
They come in super cute designs.
And they don’t leave sticky residue.

I’ve put Name Bubbles stickers on water bottles and ran them through the dishwasher over and over again. I’ve put them on clothing, and they don’t fall off in the washer OR the dryer. I’ve put them inside shoes, and they’ve lasted the entire school year.

shoes with llama name bubbles stickers inside

I’ve also used them on backpacks, notebooks, lip balm and lotion tubes, among various other items.

Do you have a child who uses a laptop or tablet at school? You can use Name Bubbles to help them easily identify their device and even their charger.

I haven’t used them on supplies like crayons, markers, and glue, simply because I don’t buy them. (We make a donation to the school and they buy classroom supplies for each student.) However, you can certainly use Name Bubbles on those things, as well.

You might find a couple instances where name labels won’t work well, and I’ll cover those items in the FAQ shortly.

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How to Use Name Bubbles Labels

Once you’ve ordered your school label pack and it arrives in your mailbox, the process is simple:

Choose a sticker in the appropriate size and peel it off the sheet.
Apply the sticker to one of your child’s school supplies.
Repeat the process for each item.

And if you ever need to remove a sticker, just use a fingernail to loosen a corner, then peel it up. Easy peasy – and no residue left behind!

FAQ About How to Label School Supplies

Why label school supplies?

The obvious answer is so that your child’s school supplies don’t get “misplaced”. The not-so-obvious answer? To avoid redistribution of the supplies you purchased.

Some families can’t afford more expensive supplies. So sometimes teachers will gather them all together, then they redistribute them. I believe this is simply an effort to be “fair” to each of the students.

However, this could be upsetting for families who spent a little more on their materials. If this doesn’t matter to you, then you certainly don’t have to label every single item.

Are you supposed to label school supplies?

The answer to this one depends on the teacher’s preferences. Some teachers might ask you to label them, while others might not.

But even if you are not required to label school supplies, you might still want to do so. It completely depends on your own personal preference.

How do you label pens and pencils for school?

You can quickly and easily label pens and pencils with Name Bubbles labels.

As I mentioned earlier, I’d never labeled supplies like pens and pencils since I wasn’t buying them for my daughter. I wasn’t entirely sure whether Name Bubbles would stick to them or not…

So I grabbed a pen and pencil, trying a couple different size stickers. And they’re sticking beautifully!

For pencils, you’ll want to put the sticker near the eraser so it doesn’t get in the way of sharpening it. And while I’m not certain that it’ll stand up to heavy use, I can say that they’re adhering to them well.

pen and pencil with llama name bubbles labels on them

How do you label kids school bags?

I’ve used the large size Name Bubbles labels on my daughter’s school bags. You can also write on the backpack with a marker if you prefer, although the labels have lasted the entire school year.

I like to label the inside of my kids’ bags, simply because it feels safer that way. You can certainly label the outside if that’s what you prefer. I don’t recommend it, though.

How do you label a school water bottle?

We use Name Bubbles labels on any and all water bottles because they’re dishwasher-safe. Plus, the labels are cute, so they add a little pizzazz!

Last year, my daughter’s name label lasted the entire school year on her water bottle. One of the corners started lifting up just a tiny bit as we neared the end of the year. It remained attached, though, until I peeled it up and replaced it with a new label.

How do you label a school lunch box?

Again, Name Bubbles to the rescue! I love that I was able to put a washable label on her lunch box. When we pass it down to the next child in a couple years, I can remove the sticker and put her name on it.

How do you label a school uniform for kids?

Name Bubbles has several different options for labeling clothing. Firstly, there are stick-on labels and there are iron-on labels.

And then there are two different stick-on label options. The first sticks to the tags on clothing. The second adheres to tagless clothing.

Pretty neat, huh?!

How do you label scissors for school?

Scissors are a little trickier. Personally, I’d mark them with a permanent marker to save the hassle of trying to get a label to stick.

How do you label school socks?

Stick-on labels don’t adhere to socks very well, either. While I haven’t tried Name Bubbles iron-on labels, I hear that they work nicely for labeling socks. If you have a lot of socks to label, then give them a try!

Otherwise, a fabric marker also works for labeling school socks. Although, if I’m being honest, I usually don’t bother labeling socks at all.

Final Thoughts

Today, I explained why I love using Name Bubbles for keeping track of my kids’ belongings at school. I also answered some of the most common questions about labeling various supplies.

What other questions do you have about how to label school supplies? Also, out of curiosity: Which Name Bubbles label design is your favorite?

I usually let my girls select their own sticker design when I’m placing my orders. I’d love to hear which designs your kiddos choose!