Does going back to school have to cost an arm and a leg? And does it have to be a fashion competition? No and No. I read recently that the cost of school clothes and supplies has gone up 25% since last year. I suspect parents’ incomes have not had that sort of increase. So in the interests of these columns’ theme of reducing refuse and waste, I offer the idea of minimalism when it comes to clothes and school items.

Yes, kids have that inconvenient habit of growing out of things and needing replacements. As mentioned above, there is also the social pressure to compete on having the latest “in” clothes and labels as well as the over-sized banners in the stores. This is tough to handle both for the kids and the parents. Lucky are the parents of the kids who rise above that sort of pressure. Conversely, the same can be said for the kids whose parents are not into such rivalry with other parents. Those are the ones who are fully content with consignment store items and limited buying overall, new or used. Hand-me-downs and hand-me-overs (to a different family) are the way blogger Jen Pistor describes her family closets. Photos of her younger daughters in big sister’s out- grown clothes prove that great outfits come from within the house.

Let me at last say I explored a children’s consignment shop on Main Street in Concord called Dandelion, a great resource of over 2,000 items in a well organized shop. Most items are under $10 and in great condition. It’s also a place to bring your kids’ good but out-grown clothes and get a little money back when they sell. In Concord are at least two downtown churches with good used clothes for sale, namely St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and St John’s Catholic Church.

Going back to school also involves pulling together that list the school sent you of pens, pencils, notebooks, reusable water bottle and lunch box, etc. However, taking an inventory of what you already have before hitting the stores would be wise. Backpacks and lunch boxes ought to last at least a few years. Having too much of a good thing is not necessarily harmless. Per Abundant Life with Less.com, UCLA’s Center on Everyday Lives and Families reports that clutter affects our mood and self-esteem, including those of children. There is a link between the excess stress hormone Cortisol and a high density of household objects. So, again, minimalism is a healthy idea for all.

One huge source of waste is school lunches, whether provided at school or brought from home. I’m speaking of both the food and the packaging. Ideally the lunchbox has small compartments where the sandwich, fruit, veggie and dip can go, all in reusable containers or wax paper. Chips and cookies, if bought in bulk and divvied into a space in each lunchbox saves the waste of individually packaged ones. If your little darlings choose to only eat the chips and cookies, well, you tried. The uneaten items should come home and be composted or used another way.

Many schools across the country have installed gardens where kids can learn about growing food. Many of these schools also have compost piles made up of uneaten cafeteria foods and the fruits and veggies ignored in the lunchboxes. Hollis’ successful experiment with this is worth emulating. They used a grant from the World Wildlife Federation’s Food Waste Warrior’s Program. With this effort, three thousand five hundred pounds of food waste has been kept from the landfill. If anyone reading this article knows of other such projects in NH, please let me know.

Having said all of that, I hope the school year holds lots of fun learning and experiences that expand minds and horizons.

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