7 Best Kindergarten Teacher Supplies for Restocking Your Classroom

Engage young learners with reading, math & art

In kindergarten, children learn school subjects like reading, math, art and music, but they also learn what a structured day looks like, how to behave in social settings and why they need to treat others well. These skills are arguably just as important. To inspire young learners, educators should invest in kindergarten teacher supplies that promote comprehension, creativity and organization.

While no two kindergarten classrooms will need precisely the same items, they’ll all have a few things in common. Kindergartners need art supplies for drawing, coloring and painting. Math manipulatives help them internalize shapes and numbers, while picture books provide opportunities to sound out words and follow simple stories. Meanwhile, teachers need cleaning products and first aid kits to keep the class hygienic and healthy.

With these kindergarten classroom supplies on hand, both students and teachers should have the resources they need for a memorable school year.

Learn more about how Walmart Business can help you today.

7 kindergarten teacher supplies to enhance your classroom

1. Math manipulatives

Math manipulatives are part toy, part learning tool. From colorful cubes and stackable shapes to dominoes and dice, manipulatives are handheld items that children can use to see mathematical concepts in action. For example: interlinking cubes can teach addition and subtraction, while balancing scales can teach about size and weight.

The best math manipulatives tend to be bright and colorful to hold students’ attention. They should also be soft and easy to clean for safety and sanitation reasons.

2. Classroom organizers

One vital life skill that kindergartners learn at school is how to clean up after themselves. This means that every object in your class needs a dedicated storage space. Whether you invest in cubbies, stackable crates or another solution, you need a way to keep the classroom organized. Not only will this teach students good habits, but it will also keep desk and floor space clear for other activities.

Remember that kindergarten teacher supplies for classroom organization also include bookshelves. Invest in furniture that’s low to the ground so that students can pick out and put back their own selections.

3. Art supplies

Creating art isn’t just fun—it’s also good for early childhood development. When kindergartners draw, color or paint pictures, they’re being creative while refining their motor skills and improving their visual-spatial awareness. Whether you have a directed project in mind or simply want to let your students have some fun, be sure that they have some opportunities to be artistic.

There are tons of different ways for young children to create art, from colored pencils and crayons to scissors, glue and construction paper. Individual children gravitate toward particular styles of art, so be sure to experiment with lots of different materials and see what inspires them.

4. Picture books

Children typically learn to read between the ages of four and seven. As such, kindergarten is a critical time for young readers. You’ll want to read to your students frequently—and unlike their parents at home, you won’t have to read the same few books over and over again.

Kindergarten teachers should invest in a rich library of picture books. There are thousands of worthwhile books to read, from tried-and-true classics to newer award winners. Since your students will have different tastes, be sure to invest in both fiction and nonfiction titles, as well as books with a variety of illustration styles. Take care to show the words as well as the pictures. Helping children sound out unfamiliar words is one of the ways that they learn to read independently.

5. Posters & decorations

Classroom decorations serve two purposes. First, they create a warm and welcoming environment for your students, some of whom may feel anxious about starting kindergarten. Second, they can reinforce key ideas from your lessons with just a glance.

You can get classroom posters with the letters of the alphabet, months of the year, colors of the rainbow and similar topics. You can also use posters and decorations to share students’ names and birthdays, which can be especially useful during the first few months of class.

6. Cleaning supplies

The teacher supplies kindergarten instructors need are a bit different from what you might find in older grades, in part because kindergartners tend to be messier than their older classmates. You should pick up some cleaning supplies for the inevitable moment (or moments) you’re going to have to sanitize desks, toys, books or floors.

Choose gentle cleaners that don’t produce fumes or irritate skin, since small children tend to be more sensitive to harsh chemicals than adults. Also be sure to keep a steady supply of tissues, paper towels and hand sanitizer on hand.

7. First aid kits

Kindergartners are still getting the hang of coordinating their movements. As a result, minor falls, scrapes and cuts are just about an everyday occurrence. A trip to the nurse’s office can be scary and disruptive, so keep a well-stocked first aid kit among your kindergarten classroom supplies so that you can treat small abrasions by yourself. At bare minimum, you’ll want some alcohol wipes, bandages and gauze. If you have a refrigerator handy, you may also want to pick up an ice pack for bumps and bruises.

Inspire young learners with Walmart Business

Once you’ve made a list of kindergarten teacher supplies for your classroom, Walmart Business can help you order them. We sell a wide variety of classroom goods for young learners, from art activities to educational toys. Sign up for a free Walmart Business account to buy items in bulk and view your complete order history for both online and in-store purchases.

Already have an account with us? Upgrade to a Walmart Business+ membership. You’ll get free shipping from Business.Walmart.com¹ and free delivery from local Walmart stores on orders of $35 or more.² On orders of $250 or more, you’ll earn 2% back in Walmart Business Rewards.³ Over the course of a year, you could save more than $500.⁴

¹ Excludes most Marketplace items, freight and certain location surcharges.

² Restrictions apply. 

³ Rewards can only be used toward future purchases on Walmart Business. Additional terms apply.

⁴ Savings based on 1 free $35+ delivery order vs. $9.95 fee and 1 free shipping order under $35 vs. $6.99 fee biweekly, plus 2% Walmart Business Rewards on monthly order >$250 (average value of $400).