Unwrapping Excitement: Schultüte and Sustainable Gift Inspirations for the First Day of School

Are you ready for school?

The beginning of the school year can be both exciting and nerve-wracking for children and parents. Will she adjust well? Will she make any friends? What will the first day of school be like? What about choosing the best school bag? And what is a Schultüte? The list of questions goes on

While we can’t answer all of these questions, we’ve walked part of the journey and have some tips to help you prepare for the first day of school, as well as practical ideas for Schultüte presents.

School Supplies

A valuable piece of advice I received from a teacher is to invest in high-quality everyday school supplies. These items will be used daily for a year or even longer, so you want to ensure they won’t break on the second day of school.

Also, try not to get carried away buying funky pens and cute pencils. Stick to the list provided by the class teacher, as those are the items that will truly be used and needed.

The First Day of School (what it looks like in Vienna, Austria)

The first day of school is actually quite short, lasting no longer than two hours. It’s mainly a chance to greet everyone and take a group photo of kids each holding a giant Schultüte.

You don’t need to bring a school bag or anything else on the first day—just your excited child and a Schultüte.

The Schultüte won’t be opened at school, though. All the presents hidden inside will be unpacked after school after the day of excitement.

Also not a bad idea to make a plan for what you want to do with your child after the short first day at school. Make it a special occasion to remember if you can.

Schultüte

Now, let’s discuss the Schultüte. There are many attractive toys and fillers available, but most of them only provide a momentary excitement before ending up forgotten in a dark corner of a cupboard.

Try not to go overboard with the fillers for the Schultüte. Instead, choose a few things that your child will truly like and use. Pay attention to what they enjoy doing every day, as that can provide inspiration for thoughtful presents. Additionally, if possible, consider purchasing gifts from local independent shops to support small businesses.

Making a sustainable Schultüte:

Some Kindergartens create a Schultüte with the children as a farewell present. You can use this one for the first day of school—it will hold special significance for your child.
If you have the time and energy, consider sewing or buying a fabric Schultüte that can later be repurposed as a cushion or toy.
Another option is to make one together with your child. Decorate it using materials you already have at home—the possibilities are endless, and it can be a fun project to enjoy together.

Little fillers for the Schultüte – sustainable ideas for presents

This is a list of ideas, I hope you can find some inspiration here.

Include all the necessary school supplies like pens, pencils, felt pens, and erasers. It will be fun to unpack them and then pack them into a bag for the official first day of school.
Little books, such as Pixi Bücher.
A watch.
A small alarm clock.
A flashlight.
Hair clips or hair ties for girls.
Friendship bands or bracelets.
A small toy or mascot for the desk or school bag.
Arithmetic chains or other counting aids.
A set of dice—your child will definitely need them for math games.
Additional pencils and crayons.
A small wallet for pocket money.
A magnifying glass.
A water bottle.
A lunch box.
Number and letter cards or similar compact learning aids.
Small card games or wipe-clean cards with a pen (our household’s favorite game). Brands like Djeco, Usborne, or Orchard Toys have a good selection of pocket and board games.
A multiplication table.
Light reflectors for school bags or bicycles.
Name tags or name stamps for school.
A small photo frame (or a DIY photo frame set) for school photos.
A set of chalks.
A small LEGO set for Lego fans.
Letter/number-shaped cookies.
Bookmarks.
A reading light.
A small tin for milk teeth.
Funny socks.
Bath bubbles or salts.
Lip balm or hand cream for children.

Don’t forget about clothing too

Your child will be very active at school—going to the park, taking walks, and playing during breaks between lessons. They won’t have time to change into sports clothing for every activity.

That’s why it’s important to have versatile trousers and leggings that are comfortable yet durable.

Check out Babbily jeans look collection – comfortable and durable leggings and trousers perfect for school.