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Looking for simple ways to create kids’ name labels and make it easier for your child to identify their school gear? Whether it’s a lunch box, drink bottle, uniform or bag, you can save school supplies from ending up in Lost and Found with these unique labelling ideas. Get your kids involved in creating cool charms and fun name tags, while you use clever products to cut labelling time in half.

Easy Kids’ Name Labels for Lunchboxes

A GIF series showing an assortment of products for making custom kids’ name labels for school, arranged in a neat pattern on a teal background. Products include things like stickers, Sharpie markers and a lunchbox displaying a personalised label.

Look for water-resistant and dishwasher-proof adhesive labels to make lunchbox and water bottle name tags last. Make sure they can be written directly onto the item using a permanent marker – that way it’ll make it a quick and easy labelling task.

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Simple Clothing Labels

A GIF series showing ‘press-and-go’ personalised kids’ labels for school, Sharpie permanent markers and hands pressing a label with the name ‘Renee’ on it into the collar of a white shirt.

Hats, jumpers, blazers, sports gear – there are plenty of soft fabrics that need to be kept track of. Iron-on labels make it a cinch. But if you want to skip the iron, you can also just press and go. Simply write onto the Avery No-Iron Clothing Labels with permanent marker and apply to clothes – and even bags – waiting 24 hours before washing. 

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Go With Classic Key Ring Tags

A GIF series showing a variety of key ring tags being used as personalised kids’ labels for school gear, including a pencil case and a backpack.

If you need kids’ name labels for something other than a flat surface, utilise key ring tags. You can find large sizes that have plenty of room for names as well as class info or even a mobile number for expensive items. For preschoolers, you could even use photo tags with pictures of themselves to make their daycare backpack easier to find. Fluoro tags add fun to sports bags, pencil cases and more, with the bright colours making things easier for kids to spot.

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Have Fun With Personalised Name Labels

A GIF series of an assortment of personalised printed sticker labels and one being stuck on a green water bottle.

Keen to skip the chore of handwriting multiple labels? At Officeworks Print & Copy you can order personalised printed labels, perfect for helping your child keep track of all their bits and pieces. 

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DIY With a Label Maker

A GIF series featuring a pair of hands using a label maker to create a name label and then sticking the label on a blue water bottle.

Another option if you want to skip the handwriting is this clever Dymo Label Maker. It’s battery operated and uses thermal printing technology so there is no ink or toner needed. You simply buy the kind of label cartridge you need, whether it’s paper, plastic, metallic or iron-on, then type in your words and it will print on the spot. You can even customise the font. These labels are fantastic for tech, stationery and even labelling drawers at home.

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Let Kids Make Creative Name Labels

A GIF series of alphabet beads, pipe cleaners, coloured cardboard, clear contact paper and handmade tags with the names ‘Joey’ and ‘Alex’ written on them.

Finally, give children the task of whipping up a bag charm, making their school backpack instantly recognisable. Think laminated name tags, beaded bracelets, pipe cleaner letters and more. It doubles as an excellent end-of-school-holidays craft project.

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This article was originally published in January 2021 and has been updated.