The Ultimate Back-to-School Period Checklist for Parents

As back-to-school season approaches, your shopping list probably includes notebooks, pencils, and new clothes. But if you’re the parent of a teen who menstruates (or might start soon), there’s another essential category to add: period preparedness. Creating a comprehensive period plan for the school year isn’t just about supplies—it’s about building your teen’s confidence to handle whatever the school year brings.

At RedDrop, we know that prepared teens are confident teens. When your child has the right tools and knowledge, managing their period at school becomes routine rather than stressful. Here’s your complete checklist for period-ready back-to-school prep.

Essential Supply Checklist

The Foundation: Emergency Period Kits

Every teen needs reliable supplies in multiple locations:

For the Locker:

• RedDrop Code Red Kit (our complete emergency kit designed specifically for school situations)
• Extra pack of pads in preferred sizes
• Backup underwear in dark colors
• Small pack of flushable wipes
• A comfortable change of clothes (dark pants or long sweater for coverage)

For the Backpack:

• Compact period supplies that fit discreetly
• Individual wipes in small packets
• Emergency snack for energy dips
• Small bottle of pain relief (if school policy allows)

For PE/Sports:

• Athletic-appropriate period products
• RedDrop’s period swimwear for swim classes
• Extra supplies in gym bag
• Dark-colored athletic clothes

Comfort and Care Items

• Heating pad or portable heat patches for cramps
• Compression or wool socks for warmth
• Herbal tea bags (raspberry leaf, ginger) for the nurse’s office
• Comfortable pajamas for rough period days at home

Conversations to Have Before School Starts

The School Support System Discussion

Help your teen identify their support network:

• Which teachers would they feel comfortable asking for help?
• Where is the nurse’s office, and what supplies do they keep?
• Who are their trusted friends who could provide backup support?
• What adults at school should know about any specific period-related health needs?

Communication Practice

Role-play different scenarios so your teen feels prepared:

• How to ask for a bathroom pass during class
• What to say if they need to visit the nurse
• How to communicate with PE teachers about participation during difficult days
• Ways to ask friends for help without embarrassment

Academic Planning Conversations

Discuss how periods might affect school performance:

• It’s normal for energy and focus to fluctuate with their cycle
• When to ask for assignment extensions (severe cramps that interfere with concentration)
• How to advocate for their needs without oversharing personal information
• The importance of not using periods as an excuse, but as a valid health consideration

Building Confidence and Reducing Anxiety

Normalize Period Experiences

• Share age-appropriate stories from your own school experience
• Emphasize that most teens worry about periods at school—they’re not alone
• Discuss how common period accidents are and how to handle them with grace
• Reinforce that periods are a normal, healthy part of growing up

Create Emergency Action Plans

Work together to plan for different scenarios:

• What to do if their period starts unexpectedly during class
• How to handle a leak or accident
• When to call you for pickup vs. when to handle it independently
• Backup plans if they forget supplies or run out

Address Period Shame and Stigma

• Teach them that periods aren’t something to hide or be ashamed of
• Practice matter-of-fact language about periods
• Discuss how to handle teasing or inappropriate comments from classmates
• Emphasize their right to take care of their health needs

Health and Wellness Preparation

Tracking and Awareness

• Help them start simple period tracking to identify patterns
• Discuss how stress, schedule changes, and new routines might affect their cycle
• Explain that irregular periods are normal during the teen years
• Show them how to use tracking information to plan ahead

Pain Management Strategies

• Review appropriate over-the-counter pain relief options
• Discuss natural comfort measures (heat, gentle movement, rest)
• Know when period pain requires medical attention
• Create a plan for managing severe cramps during school days

Nutrition and Energy Support

• Pack period-friendly snacks (bananas, nuts, dark chocolate)
• Discuss how to maintain energy during their cycle
• Plan iron-rich meals for the week of their period
• Encourage staying hydrated throughout the school day

School-Specific Logistics

Understanding School Policies

Research your school’s policies regarding:

• Medication storage and use (pain relievers, etc.)
• Bathroom pass policies and any restrictions
• PE participation requirements and modification options
• Health office procedures and available supplies

Schedule Considerations

• Note any particularly challenging class periods (long blocks, limited bathroom breaks)
• Identify the most private bathroom locations
• Plan for schedule disruptions (fire drills, field trips, testing days)
• Consider timing of important events (presentations, tests) when possible

Communication with School Staff

• Decide what information to share with teachers or counselors
• Discuss any accommodations your teen might need
• Establish communication protocols for severe period days
• Know when and how to involve school health professionals

Technology and Resources

Helpful Apps and Tools

• Simple period tracking apps appropriate for teens
• Calendar reminders for restocking supplies
• Emergency contact information easily accessible
• Educational resources about periods and adolescent health

Emergency Contacts and Information

• Make sure your teen has your contact information memorized
• Provide the school with any relevant health information
• Ensure they know how to reach you during school hours
• Have backup adults they can contact if needed

Preparing for the Unexpected

Seasonal and Schedule Changes

• Hot weather considerations for comfort during periods
• Winter weather planning (periods can feel worse in cold weather)
• Holiday break disruptions to normal routines
• Sports season timing and additional needs

Social Situations

• Handling periods during school social events
• Managing friend group dynamics around period topics
• Dealing with dating and social activities during their cycle
• Building supportive friendships that include period awareness

When to Seek Additional Support

Academic Accommodations

Consider talking to school counselors if your teen experiences:

• Frequent missed school days due to period symptoms
• Difficulty concentrating during their cycle
• Anxiety about periods that affects academic performance
• Need for additional bathroom breaks or movement during class

Health Concerns to Monitor

Schedule a healthcare provider appointment if you notice:

• Extremely heavy periods that interfere with school attendance
• Severe pain that isn’t relieved by appropriate measures
• Significant mood changes that affect school relationships
• Any concerns about normal development or cycle patterns

Final Reminders for Parents

Your Role as Support

• Be available for pickup on particularly difficult days without judgment
• Stock up on comfort items at home for after-school recovery
• Maintain open communication throughout the school year
• Celebrate your teen’s growing independence in managing their health

Building Long-Term Skills Remember that this preparation isn’t just about surviving one school year—you’re teaching your teen life skills for managing their health independently. The confidence and knowledge they gain now will serve them throughout their adult life.

Trust Your Teen’s Instincts While preparation is important, also trust your teen to know what they need. Every person’s period experience is different, and your teen is the expert on their own body. Your job is to provide support, supplies, and guidance while allowing them to develop their own period management style.

Ready for a Confident School Year

Period preparedness is just one part of back-to-school planning, but it’s an important one. When your teen feels confident managing their period at school, they can focus on what really matters: learning, growing, and enjoying their educational experience.

At RedDrop, we’re here to support both you and your teen with products designed specifically for teen bodies and teen lives. Our mission is to ensure that no young person has to worry about their period interfering with their education or activities.

Your teen’s period doesn’t have to be a source of school-year stress. With the right preparation, open communication, and quality supplies, they can handle whatever the academic year brings—period included.

Start your back-to-school period prep today, and give your teen the gift of confidence for the year ahead.

Photo by lisboa ind. on Unsplash

---

Sterling P. Jones is a wellness writer and beauty expert who believes in empowering women through education. As the founder of The Beauté Study, she teaches women how beauty and wellness practices can be tools of personal power. Sterling specializes in cycle-conscious living and writes about the intersection of beauty, wellness, and feminine health. Her approach to period education combines cultural insight with practical guidance, helping young women understand their bodies as sources of strength rather than shame.