Have a Kid Heading Back to College? You’ll Want to Read This First

If you haven’t already started to notice, summer is slowly slipping away — meaning it’s time to start mentally preparing for back to school. Before your kids come back to reality, it’s the perfect time to get in front of planning.

While your college-bound kids focus on securing new clothes, fancy new electronics (hello, wireless speakers!) and stylish décor to deck out their dorm rooms, we know someone will have to remember to get those must-have, essentials — like cozy bedsheets and practical shower caddies. So we did our homework and made it easy with a handy, printable checklist that includes everything your kids will need for a successful school year.

The best part? You can find it all at your local Target store or Target.com, meaning fewer stressful shopping trips and more quality time with the kids before they say sayonara for the semester. And, don’t forget: Target makes it easy to keep students stocked up on supplies throughout the year with subscriptions. You’ll never have to worry about them running out of dorm room essentials.

Check out our checklist below, and scroll through the back-to-college products to pick out your favorites.

On to College Checklist. Use this checklist to prep and plan for that big shopping trip, and take it with you for a one-and-done Target run. First stop at Target? Starbucks for a cup of caffeinated goodness. Let's shop!
Bath: body wash, flip-flops (trust us), hair wrap/body wrap, personal care items, razor, shampoo/conditioner, shower caddy, skin care, toilet paper, towels, washcloths/shower puff
Cleaning: cleaning supplies, disinfectant wipes, drying rack, dryer sheets, garbage bags, laundry detergent, laundry basket/bag, paper towels, trash can, vacuum (bonus pts, for using it)
Electronics: computer lock, cords/cables/power strip, laptop case, mouse, printer/ink/paper, speakers, tablet, TV, USB drive
For Class: backpack, binders/notebooks, mid-class snacks, pens/pencils/highlighters, fist bump! you did it!
Storage: 3M Command hooks, bed risers (OMGenius!), closet organizers, desktop organizer, hangers, storage bins, storage carts, under-bed storage
Bedding: blanket, body pillow & cover, mattress pad, pillows, pillow protectors, xl-twin comforter, xl-twin sheet set, xl-twin foam topper
Decor: area rug, backrest pillow, cork board, decorative lights, decorative pillows, desk lamp, door mirror, dry-erase board, floor lamp, picture frames, wall decor, wall shelves, window coverings
Furniture: accent table, desk, desk chair, dresser, futon, lounge chair, nightstand, ottoman, TV stand
Kitchen/Dining: coffeemaker, cooking utensils, dish-cleaning wand, dish soap, dish towels, food storage bags, forks/spoons/knives, microwave, mini fridge, pizza cutter, plates/bowls/cups/mugs, shelf liner, toaster/toaster oven, utensil tray, water bottle/pitcher, water filters
Pro tip: Save an additional 5% or more on campus must-haves with the College Ruled collection on the Cartwheel app.