THE average child will lose, damage or destroy £236 worth of school uniform during their time at primary school.
A study of 1,200 parents with children aged four to 16, found 45 per cent of kids will lose a jumper, while 25 per cent will permanently misplace a jacket.
And 22 per cent will even lose shoes before they reach secondary school age – with boys twice as likely to lose a pair than girls.
Water bottles are the most commonly lost or broken items during the early school years, followed by pens and pencils, and clothing.
Shoe retailer Deichmann commissioned the study to launch its ‘Back To School’ campaign, which is offering buy one get one half price across all school shoes.
Simon Wilson, director at the footwear chain, said: “It’s understandable that parents – and kids – can find the back-to-school shop time consuming and stressful, customers want speed and ease.
KEEP IT SHORT AND SWEET – Select your own styles and sizes on the shop floor to help keep the shopping process quick.
FIND THE RIGHT FIT – Get their feet measured so you know you have the best fitting shoes for them. Whether using a manual or digital machine in-store or printing off a foot gauge online, you can check kids size and width for optimal comfort.
CHOOSE A LONG LASTING STYLE – Select scuff resistant uppers or add a shoe treatment to help with durability.
GET THE KIDS INVOLVED – It’s often a good idea is to bring kids with you during the back-to-school shop and have them be involved in the process. If they have a personal connection to a pencil case, pair of shoes or water bottle they picked themselves, they’re more likely to look after them.
“Our research shows parents have to fork out more than £200 on lost or broken school items. And parents say for more than 40 per cent of kids, they find the school shop boring.
“By having stock available ready to select on the shop floor, it helps minimise stress when shopping with children.”
The study found the cost-of-living crisis has made shopping for back-to-school ‘harder than ever’.
As such many parents are sacrificing their own needs with 41 per cent forgoing purchases for themselves in order to replace a vital school item.
And 58 per cent factor in extra budget for things they know their child will lose, damage or destroy over the first term back.
It also emerged just 39 per cent of mums and dads enjoy the back-to-school shop with their kids – with an overwhelming 78 per cent simply focused on getting a good deal.
And while one in 10 spend less than an hour getting everything they need, 26 per cent will trail around the shops for as long as four hours.
Of the parents who do enjoy the back-to-school shopping process, 59 per cent say it gives them a good chance to bond with their child.
While 47 per cent like the feeling of their child ‘starting a new chapter’, according to the OnePoll figures.
It also emerged durability (62 per cent) and comfort (59 per cent) are the top priorities for parents when it comes to buying school gear.
Simon Wilson added: “School shoes often get hardest hit by wear and tear. By selecting hard wearing styles with scuff resistant uppers or adding a shoe treatment, it can help keep them looking newer for longer.”
