Parents and guardians care deeply about their children and as such may worry
about their progress, new beginnings or return to school. Fear less the school
should keep you informed about how your child is doing, if they hold information
nights make sure you attend and use the school website to inform yourself about
how classes are run. As a parent it is your role to take up on the engagement
schools make with your family to ensure you essentially enter a partnership with
the school community. Remember your child’s teacher is available to chat with
you about any concerns that you have, it’s natural as a parent to want to know
how your child is doing.
In amongst all this there is the huge task of finding supplies that will work
effectively for children’s day at school. Here is where I can help reduce some of
the work you have ahead in choosing a lunch box that actually works. Trust me I
have tried and tested countless lunchboxes and drink bottles for my children and
assisted my students in navigating what should be a simple task!
What lunch box will meet your child’s needs at school?
• BPA free. This is NOT negotiable and should be noted on the product.
This means it meets Australian standards and is a safe space for food to
be stored.
• Sealed or air tight to ensure food remains fresher for longer. This should
include lids that can be easily cleaned or removed for washing and
drying. If you want the ultimate seal look at these reusable storage bags,
they are not only environmentally friendly but also cost effective because
unlike zip lock bags they can be used over and over again. In my
experience as a teacher they have also been a life-saver when children
drop their lunchbox and everything goes rolling out because the food is
safely sealed and it can be easily picked up which means reduced stress,
tears and hungry tummies!
• Multiple compartments that allow for a decent amount of food to be
stored. For example older kids may require larger compartments than
younger children.
• Dishwasher safe! At the end of a busy day its so good to be able to pop
the lunchbox in with the dinner dishes and give it a good clean. Happy
parents make happy kids.
• Make sure the lunchbox has different lids for different areas that way if it
is dropped not everything will fall out. Its also reduces sensory overload
where the children look at the whole packed lunch and become
overwhelmed. An insulated cover like the quality ones found here on
bubbalove won’t ware out like cheaper ones and will provide safer
conditions for food to be stored. Both my sons had their Bobble Art
lunchboxes outlasted him, he outgrew the design as it was still going over
four years on, and the insulation was still perfect so it was well worth the
investment.
• Make sure you always have some freezer/cold fridge packs ready to add
to the lunchbox. I always have at least 6-8 on hand ready add to the
insulated bag even throughout winter. They also double up as the perfect
size first aid pack which we all need in the house with children! I never
used to add the cool packs to the lunch boxes until completing a healthy eating course I realised the importance of using cool packs to
keep food fresh, safe for consumption and full of goodness. Check out
these cool Kangaroo ones which my kids love because of course the
Kangaroo is iconic to Australia.
Parents and guardians care deeply about their children and as such may worry about their progress, new beginnings or return to school.