Ages 3 to 6

It depends on your state. It's Kindergarten in NSW and the ACT, Prep in Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania, Reception in South Australia, Pre-primary in WA and Transition in the NT. Whatever your school calls it, the gear in this collection is made for that first-year routine.

Use the wording on your own school's information pack when choosing supplies. Starting ages, orientation days and the equipment list can differ, even within the same state. A useful trial is a practice lunch at home: get the bag out, open the container, eat, close everything and put it away. That often shows whether a lid or zip needs more practice before the first full day.

Most kids need a backpack, an insulated lunch bag, a drink bottle and a way to carry snacks. Your school or centre will usually send a list, so check it first, then add the extras that make mornings easier, like a cutlery set with a case or reusable pouches.

Lay out the things your child takes on an ordinary day before choosing extras. A lunch box, bottle and separate fruit-break container usually need a place of their own; a library bag might only travel on borrowing day. Check whether the school supplies cutlery and whether lunch stays in the classroom or a fridge. That tells you what needs to fit together and which pieces you can leave off the shopping list.

Yes. Each Junior backpack and lunch bag bundle pairs a backpack with the matching lunch bag in the same design, so your child can spot their bag straight away.

Match the range name as well as the colour. A printed Junior piece and a plain Axis piece can look good together, but they are different designs. Open the individual product photos to see the complete print and trim. If siblings like the same design, add a name inside each bag and on removable lunch pieces so matching gear still finds its way to the right person.

The Duo bento has a one-clip closure designed for small hands, and its food jar uses a lift-up clip lid instead of a screw top, so kindy and prep kids can open lunch on their own.

Practise with the container on a table rather than held in the air. Let your child release the closure, lift the lid, put it back and close it again with a small amount of food inside. Opening is only half the job; being able to pack leftovers away matters too. Children develop these skills at different rates, so an easy closure is helpful without being a guarantee of independent use.

The Spixal drink bottle holds 750ml and is lightweight, so it suits a full kindy or school day without weighing the bag down.

Think about refill access as well as bottle capacity. A child who can refill at school has different needs from one heading straight to afternoon sport. Water adds weight, so assess the bottle filled, not just empty. Show your child where it belongs in the bag and how to close it properly after a drink. The amount they need will vary with activity and weather; a bottle size is not a daily drinking target.