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My youngest daughter, who everyone calls the “mini me” is growing up! Can we have a moment of silence while I cry a little? Seriously though, she’s leaving her pre-teen years and will be heading back to school as a full-fledged teenager…eek!
In my eyes, she’s still my baby, but I know the time will soon come when she’ll shave her legs, wear makeup and have her first period. While she’s looking forward to growing up and using more beauty products, she’s also expressed her fears of having her first period. To help ease her mind and feel more confident as she transitions into a young lady, we created her first Back to School Teen Pre-Cycle & Beauty Survival Kit.
To help my daughter feel good and prep her for the first period, we headed to Walgreens to stock up on the number one “must have” for a cycle kit, the pads!
Since my daughter is active and required to take P.E., U by Kotex CleanWear® by U Pads are the perfect pads for her. U by Kotex CleanWear® pads are ultra-thin, flexible and designed to move with her body. She’s lucky to never have to experience a thick pad that makes you walk like a duck. Plus, the 3D core locks away any wetness while the secure fit wings help prevent bunching and scrunching.
I know it may seem early to put together a cycle kit for back to school, but one of the bonuses of putting together this kit early is the promotional offer that Walgreens is currently running – Buy $15 of participating U by Kotex / EOS / BIC products and get 3,000 Balance Reward Points. I took full advantage of this promo and bought the regular U by Kotex CleanWear Pads, EOS Coconut Milk Lip Balm and BIC Soleil Color Collection Razors.
Our Walgreens had a display next to the beauty counter register that had a lot of the items we needed for our kit. If your Walgreens doesn’t have the display, you can find many of the kit items in their designated areas: U by Kotex CleanWear® pads in the feminine care aisle, BIC Shavers in the shaving aisle and EOS Lip Balms can be found all over the store.
Back to School Teen Pre-Cycle & Beauty Survival Kit with FREE Supplies Checklist Printable
The supplies for this kit are broken down into two lists: back to school teen period items and back to school beauty items.
Back to School Teen Period Items –
- Bag – Get your daughter involved and let her pick out her bag.
- U by Kotex CleanWear® by U Pad – Pack regular and heavy pads. Don’t forget to show her how to use and dispose of them.
- Panty Liners – For everyday wear or light protection.
- Panty – In case a period happens at school.
- Spare Bottom – In case of a leak.
- Plastic Bag – To hold any soiled clothes.
- Feminine Wipes (optional) – Having a period can make you feel yucky. Add in some feminine wipes for a quick clean up and fresh feeling.
- Snack – Who doesn’t need some candy?! Pick something that won’t melt or make a mess.
- Pain Reliever – For cycle aches, cramps, and general headaches. Make sure you consult with your physician and make sure the school allows them to carry them.
- Mini Calendar or Period Tracker App (0ptional) – Give her a way to keep track of her cycle. My girl is glued to her phone, so an app is best for us.
Back to School Teen Beauty Items –
- EOS Lip Balm – We live in the desert and the air is always dry. Having a good lip balm is a must to prevent chapped and cracked lips. Let’s face it…who can concentrate at school when your lips hurt.
- BIC Soleil Shaver – I’ve had times that I’ve forgotten to shave my underarm and rushed out of the house with semi-hairy pits. I know, TMI, but it’s true! Of course, if it is against your school rules to have a shaver, leave this out of your kit. You can put this in the shower to get rid of hairy legs 🙂
- Tissue – For sneezes, running noses, and even bloody noses. It’s always a good idea to have tissue in any beauty kit.
- Travel size hair brush – Tame unruly hair. You never know when a selfie moment may pop-up.
- Oil blotters – Teens almost always have oily skin. To help prevent oil build-up and shine, include some oil blotters.
- Hair ties or hair clips – Trying to stretch hair ties around my daughter’s thick hair can sometimes be a test in muscle strength. She’s broken a lot of hair ties and unleashing her mane can almost block out the sun. Love you, honey! Anyway, even if your daughter doesn’t wear her hair up, you never know when a bad hair day will strike.
- Nail file – I think it’s safe to say that chipped nails drive most girls crazy. Add it in the beauty kit and save her sanity.
- Deodorant or body spray – Changing hormones and bodies often come with teen funk. Adding a deodorant or body spray will help ensure your teen smells good at all times of the day. Plus, deodorant is a required school supply for P.E.
- Lotion – Having dry skin is no fun. A small travel size lotion will help keep skin hydrated. We filled a clear travel bottle with her favorite lotion.
- Hand Sanitizer (optional) – My daughter is a bit of a germaphobe, so a hand sanitizer is a “must have” beauty item for her.
- Gum or mints – It’s not cute to have bad breath…add these in!
FREE Supplies Checklist Printable –
Add this supplies list into the bag to keep track of supplies that need to be replaced. Blank spaces are for you own additional items. The printable is available in black, teal and purple.
Resize the printable to fit your bag and print on heavy cardstock.Laminate or cover with clear Contact paper and trim.
Putting It Together
Tips for packing the bag:
- Keep the period items and beauty items on separate sides.
- Use the plastic bag and panty as a divider between the two sides.
- U by Kotex CleanWear® Pad – To distinguish the different flow pads, use one color packaging for regular flow pads (we chose green) and the other colors for heavy flow pads.
- Don’t forget the supply checklist!
Creating a Back to School Teen Pre-Cycle & Beauty Survival Kit was a great opportunity to reinforce the lines of open communication and fun activity to bond with my “big” girl. The kit not only allowed me to show my daughter how to use pads and some new beauty items, it helped ease my daughter’s period anxiety by helping her take control over her first period and view it in a more positive manner.
How do you survive your cycle? What would you include in your Teen Pre-Cycle & Beauty Survival Kit?
More Teen Kits
Have a teenager dealing with acne? Check out this DIY Teen Acne Survival Kit to make the daily acne routine fast and easy!
Please remember that medications and razors may not be allowed at school. Check with your school before packing those items in the bag
Of course, always follow the school rules.
Absolutely loved this post. I’m 18 and this helped me out so much! I love making little survival kits, and I can’t wait to make these!
Same☺
Yes, it is these little things that make them feel loved! Good on ya, Erlene! Thanks for sharing it with us at SHARE IT 25. Love having party with us and looking at your contribution. Hope to seeing you this coming weekend again! ~ Rose
What a great idea! I have a 12 year old daughter and she’ll probably need something like this pretty soon. Pinning! Thanks for linking to Tips & Tricks. Can’t wait to see what you link up next. 🙂
great idea and comprehensive list! i wish I had this as a teen! Great as well for taking to work. Thanks for sharing with us at Snickerdoodle Sunday!
This is the best idea! I wish someone made one for me back in the day!
Wonderful idea and post! It’s great to have a mom that cares about all these things 🙂 Thanks for sharing your post at Together on Tuesdays!!!
This is such a clever idea. I graduated from high school many, many years ago, but I still have the pouch that I kept in my purse with pads in it. It’s a comfort to know that you have someone on hand when you need it. Thanks for sharing your post at the #AnythingGoes Link Party.
You know, I remember being in high school and having friends ask for things that are in this bag. I’m always surprised at how many girls don’t have one of these.
Great idea!! Love the printable as well. Anything that helps with feeling less vulnerable and more prepared as they head into something new – school and body changes is brilliant. Well done.
Thanks Tracey. I know she’s changing and it can be hard, but hopefully this helps a little.
What a thoughtful post.Your ‘little’ girl is lucky to have such a thoughtful mom. All the best for her going forward. We love you taking the time to party with us on Fridays Blog Booster Party #16
Kathleen
Thanks Kathleen. I think the both of us will feel a lot better knowing she has this.
I really appreciated this thoughtful post. It is really thoughtful to put these items together for a pre-teen daughter. Glad to have you join #OMHGWW!
Shellie
Thanks for letting me share on the party Shellie. I’m glad you like the post.
Wow this is an awesome post. I wish I had thought of making one for each one of my daughters when they had their first period. This is such a great idea. Thanks for linking up at the #HomeMattersParty. Hope you come back and link up with us again.
I wish I had one of these too.
Back to school and having a daughter old enough to possibly need this kit – both are heading toward me WAY too fast! Can I just pretend summer will last forever and my daughter will never grow up? 🙂
Great idea! Thanks for sharing with us at the #HomeMattersParty
Lol…I wish my girl wasn’t growing up so fast too. This kit was a great ice breaker to show my girl how to use pads and to talk about any of her concerns.
You’re such a great mom for putting these kits together for your daughter! I know I would have loved something like that when I was entering those years.
Thanks Christine. My oldest dd wants one too.
I remember when my baby girl first started, she was only 9!!! That is way too young. She has always experienced some problems, some of which are serious. I think her young age of development has something to do with that. Your kit is wonderful, well packed with all the essentials!
9 is young. I think I may have slightly over packed, but it’s better to have something than not.
I was 11 and in the 6th grade when I started. Luckily it was on the weekend and we were camping. We had to cut our camping trip short to go into town and get some supplies because I wasn’t ready. Tell your daughter to keep that on her at ALL TIMES! It always happens when you least expect it! 🙂 #client
My youngest dd isn’t looking forward to her period, but she does feel better having this kit.