KUCHING: It is late afternoon on a weekend; the aisles are crowded with families navigating the annual back-to-school ritual.
Although the 2026 academic term begins in two weeks’ time, some parents opted to have early preparation for their children.
As the new school term approaches, parents face the familiar challenge of balancing their children’s wishes with household budgets, quality concerns and practical needs.
But this year’s back-to-school shopping season reveals something more: how families are adapting their spending habits, involving children in financial decisions and finding ways to make the experience meaningful rather than merely transactional.
For Dayang Nurazzah, 54, a marketing executive and mother, back-to-school shopping begins long before she steps into a mall.
The first step is to do an inventory check; examining her son’s existing school equipment to determine what can be salvaged for another term and what needs replacing.
“I had to prepare everything he needed for school such as uniforms, stationery, shoes and bag,” she explained.
But Dayang’s approach is not about buying the cheapest option. Instead, she invests in quality items that will withstand the rigours of daily school life.
“These purchases can be expensive, so I always opt for the best quality for my son so that it can be used for a long time.”
This buy-once philosophy reflects a calculated financial strategy. Dayang admits that finance is her biggest consideration, requiring financial planning well before the shopping season begins.
Beyond the budget, she also factors in the shopping experience itself, timing her visits to avoid weekend crowds.
“It won’t be comfortable for my family and I to shop and choose the best items wisely with crowds all around,” she added.
Dayang also emphasised on involving the children while shopping since it is not a solo mission as she brings her son to try out the uniforms and shoes.
“Their comfort is important as it can help them to focus on learning rather than fidgeting with ill-fitted clothing throughout the day. The children also have their own voice and sometimes we need to lend an ear to their concerns,” she said.
For Azmi Abdullah, 58, a teacher, he tries to prepare his child’s needs for school as early as his schedule allows.
“Being a teacher, I am no stranger to events that I need to attend during the school holidays. Hence, when I have the free time, I will bring my son to the mall to buy the things he needs for school.
His professional life shapes his shopping strategy; catching windows of opportunity between school commitments and family time before the new academic year begins.
“With the new academic year happening soon, I need to manage my time well with the family before dealing with school opening preparations. I try to be efficient with my time so that I wouldn’t make rash decisions.
But efficiency in timing does not always translate to efficiency in decision making, especially when his son has other ideas about what belongs in his backpack.
“Compared to his siblings, he’s a bit selective with the items that his mother and I have chosen for him. Sometimes, he would just refuse using it and makes his own purchases,” Azmi admits with a mixture of frustration and acceptance.
Despite that, he agreed that it is important to involve the children while shopping as it helps to strengthen the bond and relationship between parents and children.
“It may seem like we’re controlling them, but as a matter of fact, we just want the best for them,” he added.
Not all parents have the luxury of early planning or flexible schedules. For Faizal Zelani, 35, a retail worker, back-to-school preparation often happens in the margins of an unpredictable work life.
“It’s a bit difficult for me to schedule things as I may have to replace other staff at work at random times but when I have the time, I will focus on important things such as right now.
“I’m feeling grateful this year as I’m able to spend some time with my family to buy necessary things for my two children for their school preparations,” he said.
Faizal makes sure that his finances are under control, as he is aware the prices can be out of control sometimes. “As my children are growing, I try to keep an eye on my expenditures. It’s not easy for my wife and I, but I want the best for my children.”
Working at a retail store also helped him to compare school equipment prices so that he can choose wisely. “Being frugal is one thing, but in this economy, we cannot afford to be cheap with the quality as well. So, I would rather be careful with my choices while giving the best for my children,” he added.
Faizal also ensures that his children are involved in choosing their school necessities. “Sometimes, it might hurt my pocket, but I enjoy the smile on their faces when they have new paraphernalia for school next year.”
The approach taken by parents by checking inventory, prioritising quality, planning finances, and most importantly, involving children in key decisions illustrate how back-to-school preparation has evolved into a multi-layered exercise in both household management and thoughtful parenting.
As the school year approaches and the shopping bags are carried out of malls across the city, these families take with them more than just uniforms and stationery. They carry forward lessons in resourcefulness, memories of time spent together navigating choices, and the reassurance that despite different circumstances and strategies, every parent shares the same fundamental goal: giving their children the best possible start to a new academic year.
