#Back-to-school shopping items you’ll actually need this year

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Back-to-school shopping looks a little different this year.
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Throw out your back-to-school shopping list from last year: You won’t need it.

Whether your kids are going back to in-person classes, staying home full-time or doing some kind of hybrid, they won’t be able to get through the new school year with just their usual supply of pencils and paper. Remote learning and staying safe from COVID-19 will require a different kind of back-to-school shopping.

Although parents are shelling out more for work-from-home supplies such as laptops and pricey technology, they’re pulling back the purse strings on new clothes, reports the AP. Ditch the new sweaters and shoes for sweatpants, the flashy backpacks for standing desks and headphones.

Overwhelmed with where to start? The Post has you covered. Here is our guide to everything you will need for a safe and sane return to classes.

Sanitizers, soaps and masks

The most important thing is staying safe. If your student is attending classes in person, they should be wearing a mask while indoors, the CDC states.

Need to get your wee one a mask? Check out this guide to face coverings for kids of all ages.

And Dr. Anthony Fauci says it couldn’t hurt to take your protective measures one step further and wear eye coverings, like goggles and face shields, too. We’ve picked our favorites here.

Don’t forget the hand sanitizer, but check the label before you buy: The FDA has warned against using several brands of antibacterial wash that include methanol, a chemical that can be toxic.

These travel-sized hand sanitizers from Bare Hands can be easily placed in a backpack. Plus, the aloe and calendula extract will be soft on hands.

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Staying safe can be cute, too. Load up these kid-friendly sanitizer carriers, which can easily be strapped onto a backpack or belt loop to avoid the inevitable misplacement. Fill them up with your bulk sanitizer of choice, such as the Super Clean Hand Brand’s lavender-scented gel.

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Washing hands with soap and water is still one of the best ways to protect against the coronavirus — so you better buy in bulk this school year. Equate’s simple hand soap should last at least until Labor Day.

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E-learning supplies

If your kid will be making your kitchen into a classroom, there will need to be a formal workplace, or as close to one as possible. Couch potatoes will love this adjustable laptop tray, which can make any place in your house an office.

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Those who prefer to stretch their legs can invest in a standing desk converter, which will make any old table into a trendy office surface, like this laptop-sized one.

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Laptops and technology

Of course, no remote learning environment is complete without technology. If the school isn’t providing them, your student will need to pick a laptop, one that has a webcam and mike built into it.

Microsoft is currently offering several deals on learning laptops, including this touch-screen one, which is $350 off. Many teachers stuck streaming their lessons employ Google Classroom. To make it easy, give a Chromebook a try, with this ruggedized, spill-resistant computer. And Apple fanatics can’t go wrong with a sleek MacBook Air.

Young kids may struggle while working with a laptop’s mousepad. Pick up a wireless mouse, like this best seller on Amazon. Have them pick one of the fun pink, purple or blue options to make schoolwork more exciting.

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Keep them focused on class and out of your hair with a pair of noise-canceling headphones. This $40 model has close to 4,000 five-star reviews.

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