Adelaide kids will head back to school for the 2026 year on Tuesday January 27, marking the end of the summer break and the exciting start of a new chapter. Whether they’re seasoned veterans or wide-eyed newbies, Adelaide’s schools are preparing to welcome a fresh wave of energy and enthusiasm, ready to tackle new challenges and make lifelong memories.
So, Adelaide parents, dust off the lunchboxes, sharpen those pencils, and embrace the back-to-school buzz! So you won’t forget a thing we’ve put the back to school necessities as well as some other handy items to help you get organised for the new school year.
School Lunchboxes and Ideas on How to Fill Them
Nudie Rudie Lunchboxes (S.A business)
We’ve put together a whole list of lunchboxes before but after trying and testing A LOT, we all can’t go past the Nudie Rudie range of lunchboxes and accessories. Not only do they come in a range of sizes and designs – we LOVE the Hot/Cold Hero Box for kids who love a hot lunch (plain pasta with cheese on heavy rotation here) we also love how sturdy they are and especially love that they’re a local SA small business.
This year we’re suggesting you skip the rest, and head straigh for a Nudie Rudie
Backpacks and Lunch Bags from Curious Grace Co. (S.A business)
Curious Grace Co backpacks and lunch bags are designed to make everyday routines easier and a whole lot prettier. Thoughtfully created for growing kids and busy families, each piece combines functionality with timeless style.
The lunch bags feature a handy carry strap, optional personalisation, an external drink bottle holder, a front zip pocket and an extra-large main compartment designed to fit lunchboxes and containers with ease. Paired with the matching backpacks complete with spacious interiors, comfortable straps and durable, easy-care fabric to keep up with school days, kindy drop-offs and everything in between.
Crafted from high-quality materials and designed to last, these pieces are perfect for big kids, little kids and even adults (because everyone deserves a beautiful bag). With the option to personalise both backpacks and lunch bags, Curious Grace Co makes back to school feel special, coordinated and uniquely theirs.
Use the code “Kidsinadelaide” for 20% off!
Frisp
Frisp has added four new options to its clean snacking range, perfect for lunchboxes and on-the-go munching.
The freeze-dried fruit crisps now include Raspberry and Coconut, alongside the much-loved classics Strawberry & Mango crisps
There are also 2 new FRISP Minis Fruit Bars – Apple+Blueberry and Apple+Mango. Soft and chewy with real bar texture & fruit taste, no added sugar, and no preservatives.
Easy Lunchbox Recipes
It’s always hard to come up with nutritious lunchbox ideas that your kids will actually eat, isn’t it? With the amount of kids we have between us here at Kids in Adelaide, and the number of lunchboxes we put together any given week we’ve asked around the team and put together some great (and simple!) lunchbox recipes and tips that are guaranteed to be a winner with even the fussiest of kids.
More products, services and ideas for getting back to school in 2026
Ollie Ashenden Children’s Shoes
Get ready to go back-to-school with 20% off school shoes and 10% off school sandals at Ollie Ashenden Children’s Shoes until the end of January.
Kids spend a lot of time in their school shoes, so they need to be comfy and well supported.
Ollie’s is a 52-year-old local family business and their staff have 179 years combined experience in fitting kids shoes. There’s a wide variety of brands including Clarks, Harrison Pablosky, Bobux, and Surefit, and styles in up to 6 different widths. Sizes range from a little size 8 up to a Mens size 15, so they cater for first timers to school leavers. Check out some of the range here
Ascent school and sports shoes are also available but not on sale.
All plain black and white Asics sneakers are 10% off and available from a little size 10 up to a Men’s 13.
Plus most Summer fashion styles are also on sale with 20-70% off.
See the website: www.ollies.com.au/school-shoes
or Facebook: www.facebook.com/OllieAshenden for pics and more info
Ugly Swan Detangling Hair Brush
If you’re yet to experience how traumatic the school morning hair routine can be can we just save you the hassle and suggest you grab yourself an Ugly Swan hair brush.
If you have kids with birds nest hair (or any hair) who carry on like absolute pork chops about having it brushed, these are a game changer for you. If your kids have sensory issues, these are your new go to brush. Maybe you are a dance Mum – these bad boi’s will whip up a smooth high pony or bun in zero time and they even make it easy for our kids to wait for it……do their own hair!
Back to school essential – yep we think so
Get 20% off Ugly Swan hairbrushes when you use the code “kia”
Spriggy
Back to school is also a great time to start thinking about pocket money.
It’s not just a piggy bank, or somewhere for kids to save their money, it’s a TOOL for helping teach kids about money. All aspects of it. The value of money, creative ways to earn money, how to save money, how to manage your money, and how to spend money when you need/want to.
Modibodi
Is your daughter on the cusp of starting their period…this one is for you. Before it’s too late and THAT moment happens at school without her being prepared, do yourself and her a favour and throw a pair of Modibodi teen period undies in her bag. Having a pair in her bag or locker will give both of you peace of mind knowing that she can throw on a pair of period-proof undies to get through the day.
Find a new sport or hobby for your child
What will your child do after school or on weekends this year? Is it time for them to find a new sport, start swimming lessons, or perhaps try dance, art or music classes?
Maybe they need a tutor to give them a bit of a helping hand with their school work?
Our LEARN section of our website has HEAPS of ideas of different classes, teams or clubs your child can try – there is something for everyone!
Inchargebox
Honestly, what family doesn’t need help with their digital wellbeing? Enter Inchargebox!
We jumped at the opportunity to give a couple of different sized Inchargebox’s a go and we’re sold.
What is it exactly? Well it’s a great quality, powered coated, lockable, steel tech storage box. It’s stylish and it obviously has has capability to charge up to ten devices at any one time (depending on the size etc that you select). It comes in some beautiful colours, or simply opt for unicorn white. Perfect for smartphones, iPads, tablets, air pods, headphones, smartwatches, gaming remotes, laptops, drones and all USB chargeable devices.
Adventure Awaits
If you need lunchboxes and lunchbags, drinkbottles, art supplies, backpack or even a new watch to help tell the time take a scroll through the back to school section of the Adventure Awaits website.
Stocking popular brands like b.box, Frank Green, Little Lunchbox Co., Sinchies and more you can tick a whole bunch of back to school shopping off in one swoop here.
Choose Kindness with Smiggle and Dolly’s Dream
As kids head back to school, Smiggle is proudly partnering with Dolly’s Dream to encourage kids to choose kindness again this January and look out for their friends and classmates.
Smiggle is calling on its thousands of fans across the country to drop into a Smiggle store and purchase their $3 Choose Kindness Reuse Me Bag (available in store and online). All proceeds from any Choose Kindness purchase goes directly to fund Dolly’s Dream, a national anti-bullying organisation dedicated to changing the culture of bullying by providing bullying support programs and resources for families, schools and communities to assist children and young people.
Smiggle has raised over $200,000 since first introducing it’s Choose Kindness products that help raise funds for Dolly’s Dream anti-bullying programs.
Some (not all) of the products and services mentioned above are paid ads, gifted products or affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a commission. Thanks.
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