“Preparing for the new school year is one of the busiest shopping periods for families, so it’s worth starting at home – reviewing what the child already has and making a list of missing items. We notice that families increasingly come shopping together with their children and try to buy as many necessary items as possible in one visit. Especially since at “Mega” you can find everything you might need to prepare for the new school year – from backpacks and school supplies to clothes, footwear, electronics, or everyday small items,” says Laimis Binderis, Marketing Manager of “Harmony Property Management | Baltic RED,” the company managing PLC “Mega.”
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Backpack as a style detail
If you have a backpack of the right size, comfortable, not torn, and its zippers work, it can successfully serve for another year. However, if a new one is needed, it’s worth involving the child in the choice – after all, today a backpack is not only a practical school item but also part of everyday style. Younger children often prefer brighter colors, favorite characters, or playful details, while older ones often choose solid-colored, more restrained models inspired by sporty, minimalist, or street fashion designs. Backpacks of different styles and sizes can be found in stores operating in PLC “Mega” such as “Bags & More,” “Charlot,” “CCC,” “Deichmann,” “Pegasas,” and “Senukai.”
After choosing a preferred model, it’s important to assess its comfort: the backpack should be light, with wide adjustable straps, and fit comfortably against the back. It is recommended to try it on before purchasing.
School supplies
It is customary to include notebooks, pens, pencils, markers, rulers, glue, scissors, erasers, folders, pencil cases, drawing and colored paper, paints, gouache, and brushes on the school supplies list. Although most of these items should primarily be practical, children often care about how they look. A favorite pencil case, notebooks, or writing tools can become a fun part of preparing for the new school year, so it’s worth letting the child choose at least a few everyday items themselves. A wide selection of school supplies and creative materials can be found at “Charlot,” “Pegasas” bookstore, “Senukai,” and “Rimi.” Exercise books, workbooks, and children’s fiction are worth looking for at “Knygos.lt,” “Pegasas” bookstore, or “Rimi.”
However, it’s better not to rush with specific teaching aids. If the school or teacher has not yet provided an exact list, some purchases can be postponed to the first days of September. This reduces the chance of buying notebooks, exercise books, or other materials in the wrong format that might not even be needed in a particular class.
Clothes, footwear, and sportswear
Some schools have a dress code or require uniforms, so before updating the student’s wardrobe, it’s worth checking the recommended attire for the specific school. If the school requires uniforms or polo shirts, dark sweaters, pants, skirts, or other classic clothes, they can be found in the “Pakaitos” section of PLC “Mega,” located near the “Peek&Cloppenburg” store.
If the child attends kindergarten or the school does not require uniforms, it’s not necessary to buy many new outfits for everyday wear. It’s more practical to first see which basic, easily combinable clothes – pants or jeans, skirts, shirts, sweaters, or sweatshirts – are missing. Such a wardrobe can be supplemented with a few brighter or currently fashionable clothes and accessories.
Everyday wardrobes for younger children can be found at “H&M,” “KidZone,” “Lindex,” “Pepco,” or “Reserved.” For older ones who care about current fashion, more street and youth style options are offered by “Cropp,” “House,” “New Yorker,” and “Sinsay.” This season, looser silhouettes are popular – “baggy” or “relaxed” style jeans and pants, “oversized” sweatshirts and t-shirts, sporty and street style details. A few such new seasonal clothes can easily complement a basic wardrobe and match what the child already has.
It’s also worth checking if sportswear and footwear still fit. Sports shoes for older children and teenagers are often part of both sports lessons and everyday wear. At the “Sizeer” store, you can choose from “Nike,” “adidas,” “Reebok,” “Converse,” “Vans,” “Puma,” “New Balance,” and other youth and street style brands, while “Sportland” offers “Nike,” “Air Jordan,” “Converse,” “The North Face,” “Salomon,” “Timberland,” and other sports and leisure brands. Sportswear and casual clothes can also be found at “Audimas” and “4F” stores, and basketball fans can find clothes, merchandise, and accessories at “Žalgiris Shop.”
When reviewing the wardrobe, don’t forget smaller but daily necessary items like socks or tights. These can be found at “Skinija.”
Also, it’s wise to think not only about the first days of September but also about the soon-to-arrive cooler and rainier weather. Consider whether last season’s jacket, warmer sweaters, and closed footwear still fit. If the child will walk to school or use public transport, rain-protective outerwear and comfortable moisture-resistant or waterproof shoes will be useful. Such clothing can be found at “Hiatus,” “Regatta Great Outdoors,” or “Sportland,” and autumn-appropriate, wetter weather footwear at “Crocs,” “Geox,” “Sportland,” and other shoe stores.
Smartwatch, phone, or maybe a computer
As the child grows, the electronic devices they need change. Younger students who are just starting to travel independently to school or clubs may benefit from a smartwatch with calling functionality, older ones more often need a phone, and later – a computer or tablet for learning.
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When choosing an electronic device, it’s worth involving the child – considering what they will use the device for and which functions are important to them. Older students can often quite accurately say what they need for studies or favorite activities.
This is especially relevant when choosing a computer. If attending programming, graphic design, or other technology clubs, it’s useful to find out in advance what technical specifications the programs require. If the current computer meets these requirements, buying a new one is unnecessary – maybe just check the charger, case, headphones, and if needed, buy a mouse, USB drive, or external battery.
Various options for watches, phones, computers, tablets, and their accessories can be compared at “Topo centras,” “C&C,” “Senukai,” “Xiaomi” stores, as well as mobile operator salons located in PLC “Mega.”
Don’t forget everyday small items
Once the main purchases are made, it’s worth reviewing a typical day for the child from leaving home to returning. Do they have a water bottle, lunch box, sports bag, umbrella? If the child will travel to school independently, are there reflectors on the backpack and outerwear?
Since the child will use many of these items daily themselves, it’s important that they are comfortable for them. The water bottle or lunch box should be easy to open and close independently, the sports bag comfortable to carry, and the umbrella easy to open and close.
Parents of preschoolers should check if spare clothes, comfortable indoor shoes, and other items required in the specific group are not missing.
When preparing for September, it’s also worth reviewing daily hygiene products. Tooth, hair, or skin care and other personal hygiene products can be found at “Eurokos,” “Drogas” stores, and BENU pharmacy. The selection of health and hygiene products at PLC “Mega” has been supplemented by the recently opened “Gintarinė vaistinė” near the “Senukai” entrance.
Before the new school year, it’s worth taking care not only of purchases but also of the child’s appearance. If it’s time to update the hairstyle after summer, a haircut can be done at the “Salon+” beauty salon operating in PLC “Mega.”
If flowers are needed for the teacher on the first day of school morning, a bouquet or a single flower can be chosen at the “Šonetė” flower shop.
Combine shopping with entertainment
When preparing for the new school year at PLC “Mega,” shopping can be combined with entertainment. Until August 31, a free Driving School operates in the central square, where children aged 3–8 can learn about traffic safety rules and immediately apply them practically.
In a specially equipped 250 sq. m area, the little ones find a track resembling city streets with road signs, traffic lights, pedestrian crossings, and a roundabout, as well as a gas station and car wash. Before sitting behind the wheel, they participate in an interactive lesson where they recall the meanings of road signs, traffic light signals, and safe behavior rules on the street, and later test the acquired knowledge on the track – sitting in age- and height-appropriate vehicles, becoming traffic participants themselves, and remembering how to behave safely on the street.
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More information about the free Driving School – www.mega.lt.
