With schools starting to return to blended in-person and remote learning environments, you probably have some questions about how to keep your child safe when class is in session. We've put together a list of the essentials to pack should you decide to send your child back to school. Always refer to your local school's policies and guidelines, but check out some of our recommendations below:

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Bring your own school supplies.

This one probably goes without saying, but let's start with the most basic of things to pack - regular supplies! We all know that germs can be spread through surfaces, so make sure to pack your child's own set of tools. This includes any basics such as pencils, pens and notebooks - anything that they'll be using throughout the day in class.

Hand sanitizer.

Kids should always have a 60% or higher alcohol-based hand sanitizer with them, but not all hand sanitizers are created equal. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the government has temporarily relaxed manufacturing guidelines in order to meet the demand for cleaning staples like hand sanitizer. 

Per the CDC's Back to School Planning and Packing for COVID-19 guide, "Use hand sanitizer (that contains at least 60% alcohol). Make sure you're using a safe product. FDA recalled products that contain toxic methanol." Be careful with which hand sanitizer you choose, as many products out there contain harmful toxins such as methanol or 1-propanol, which can be harmful if absorbed through the skin or ingested. You can view the list of recalled hand sanitizers from the FDA here. 

As far as hand sanitizer goes, we highly recommend trying out Lemyn Organics. Created by a caring mother in California, not only do they boast being vegan and PETA-Approved cruelty-free, but they're also USDA Certified Biobased and made with organic, renewable ingredients. They focus just as much on what NOT to put in the bottle as what they do include, which is why Lemyn has a strict "no no" list of ingredients to avoid such as silicones, parabens, triclosan, PET, mineral oil, synthetic fragrances, preservatives and more than 1,500 other questionable ingredients. To learn more about Lemyn's formula restrictions, check out our FAQ page here. You can also view Lemyn's full list of ingredients here.

Lemyn is dermatologist-tested and clinically proven to be safe for sensitive skin and children ages 3 and up. Every ounce of Lemyn is independent lab-tested for purity with reports on quality, so that you can rest easy knowing your bottle is safe for you and your child's skin. 

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Face Masks.

Face masks are one of the most important ways to keep your child safe when in a public space. Make sure to pack extras to have on hand in case the ear loops break or the mask gets dirty. We know that it can be hard for kids to wear face masks all day, so experts recommend building up their "endurance" by having them practice wearing face masks frequently for increasingly longer periods of time to get used to it.

For guidance on what type of mask to pack, check out our comprehensive guide on shopping for face masks here. To shop our variety of face masks, click here.

A face mask lanyard.

To prevent your little one from dropping or reusing a dirty face mask, consider getting one (or several!) of these handy face mask lanyards. They're affordable, and just an all-around easy way to keep your kiddo from dropping or misplacing their mask. Plus, it comes with a breakaway clip so you don't have to worry about it getting caught on anything.

A thermometer. 

Most schools will have policies and safety checks in place to prevent kids from spreading germs, but of course if your child shows any signs of being sick, keep them home. It's always better to be safe than sorry. A digital thermometer like this one is great to have on hand for quick and easy temp checks.

A water bottle.

For obvious reasons, children should avoid sharing objects with other students - that includes water fountains, devices, books and anything else that would otherwise be considered a communal object. Consider packing them a personal water bottle with a covered mouthpiece to avoid contact with germs like these ones here available on Amazon.com. Try to find something that's both light and durable to prevent bogging your child down. There are plenty of options out there that also offer insulation to keep drinks warm or cold for extended periods of time.

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Lunch! 

Kids gotta eat, but how do you make your child's lunch break safer? Try to make your child's meal as low-fuss as possible, opting for containers that your child can open without assistance and going for foods that don't create much mess. Worried about keeping it healthy while staying convenient? Check out some of these nutritious, hassle-free lunch ideas from EatingWell.

Need more ideas?

Looking for more ideas on how to keep your kids safe in class, or inspired to create a cleaner community in general? Learn more about Sani-Stop, your one-stop solution for all things protective essentials. Designed with kids in mind, the Tyke Sani-Stop is the perfect height for children, is touch-free and includes convenient wipes and waste bin. Built for both indoor and outdoor situations, the Sani-Stop is ideal for any environment including classrooms, cafeterias, playgrounds, auditoriums, gyms and more.

To explore the Tyke Sani-Stop collection, click here!

You can also equip your classroom with a portable air purifier like this one from EduAir. The EduAir CL400 Portable Air Purifier offers HEPA filtration for up to a 1,000 square foot space, making it the ideal solution for clean air in classrooms, offices and more. Using a 4-stage filter, activated carbon and a certified HEPA filter, this portable purifier effectively removes sub-micron particles, noxious gases and chemicals from the surrounding air. You can learn more about EduAir's progressive filtering system here.

How do you keep your community clean? Let us know in the comments section below!