Fall is right around the corner, which means back-to-school prep starts now! After a hectic summer, keeping track of your kids’ belongings can be a dreaded challenge. One unexpected, but super practical solution? A labeling or price gun! While they’re typically used in retail stores, these tools are surprisingly effective for home and back-to-school organization.
With a few clicks, you can label almost anything, and your kids will have fun helping, too, as they are easy to operate. Here are a few ways you can put your price gun to good use this season.
Back-to-School Labeling Ideas
- School Supplies
From pencils and glue sticks to notebooks and folders, school supplies are notorious for going missing or sparking a “that’s mine!” debate among children. Using a price gun to tag items with your child’s name or initials ensures their supplies make it home. You can even include their grade level or classroom number for easy return in case items get misplaced.
- Customize Lunch Boxes & Water Bottles
Lunch gear often ends up in the lost and found. Price gun labels stick easily to flat surfaces on lunch boxes and reusable containers. If your child has any allergies, you can also include that information along with their name and/or initials. For bottles that tend to sweat, use clear tape over the label to add extra durability against moisture.
- Color Code Subjects
Use different-colored label rolls for each subject. Math might get blue labels while English might get red, or vice versa. Label notebooks, folders, textbooks, and any other items that belong together for specific subjects. It’s a great visual tool that helps kids stay organized at a glance.
Labeling for Sports & Extracurriculars
- Tag All Equipment
Gear for sports and extracurricular activities is often misplaced and left unattended. A price gun is a fast, easy way to label everything from helmets and cleats to musical instrument cases and folders of sheet music. Stick labels with your child’s name on any visible flat surface, so their items are easy to spot and gather up after games or practice.
- Add Contact Info
If gear is left behind, it’s always a good idea to add a label with a contact name and phone number to increase the chances of getting it back. With sports and activities, there’s always a chance of an accident or injury occurring. Having your contact information easily visible is beneficial in the event of an emergency.
Keep Track of Communal Items and Electronics
- Label Items That Travel
When your child brings things to school for a class party, group project, or team activity, labeling helps prevent mix-ups. If your child is bringing in any food, you can use labels to differentiate snacks for children with allergies.
- Don’t Forget Tech Gear
As schools integrate more technology into the classroom, there are more items for children to keep track of. This includes chargers, headphones, tablets, or power cords. With these items being more expensive, it’s essential to label them so they don’t get lost and need to be replaced.
Organize the Entryway or Mudroom
- Assign Spaces with Labels
If you have multiple children, keeping track of whose stuff is whose can be a challenging task. In the space that your children enter your home, whether it’s your entryway or mudroom, design a hook, bin, or cubby for each family member and label it with their name. You can even give your children a fun activity of decorating their designated space.
- Label Seasonal or Activity-Based Items
Add quick, easy-to-read tags for items like “Rain Boots,” “Practice Bags,” or “Lunch Box” to keep everything organized and flowing smoothly on busy mornings. This also helps create a sense of independence for your children, as they are able to find items on their own.
A price gun may not be the first thing that pops into your mind for back-to-school prep, but it might become your new favorite tool. With just a few clicks, you can create durable labels that help keep you and your family organized from the classroom to the soccer field and everywhere in between.
