A Simple Idea That Made a Big Impact

What started as a pile of extra school supplies and backpacks quickly turned into one of my favorite counseling supports I’ve ever created.

Last year, our school received a huge number of donated backpacks and school supplies. We had so many wonderful items available, and I kept thinking, How can we use these materials in a meaningful way for students and families?

Around the same time, a local church reached out and asked how they could support our school counseling program. I shared my idea for take-home support bags, and they immediately jumped on board to help. Thanks to their generosity, donations, and a little thrifty shopping, I was able to create eight support bags to get us started.

These bags were designed to be easy for students to carry home or for caregivers to simply “grab and go.” The idea was simple: families could check out resources just like they would check out a library book and use the tools together at home.

The response was incredible.

Teachers loved having an easy way to support students outside of school, families appreciated the practical resources, and students were excited to receive something created just for them.

Why Take-Home Support Bags Work

Take-home counseling bags help bridge the gap between school and home support. They provide students and caregivers with simple, hands-on tools to practice coping skills, emotional regulation, mindfulness, and communication together.

These bags can be customized for almost any topic, including:

• Anger management
• Anxiety and stress
• Grief and loss
• Friendship skills
• Self-regulation
• Test anxiety/Test Prep
• Summer support and mindfulness

One of the best parts? You can make these bags fit your school’s needs and budget.

Some schools create bags that are checked out and returned, while others create “keep forever” support bags that students can take home permanently. I like having a combination of both options.

Grab the bag check out form here:

What Is Included in the Bags?

I tried to keep the materials affordable by using donations, discount stores, conference freebies, and printable resources. Here are things I’ve included before- pick and choose which you can afford, which ones your students would enjoy, which is best for the topic, and what is best in meeting the needs of your student.

I put in a combination of therapeutic supplies, fidget and stress tools, resources and supports, and craft supplies.

• Books– I found many of my books at local used bookstores.
• Index cards– for a recipe of feelings activity
• Journals– Purchased from Oriental Trading.
• Individual Care Plan blank copies
• Pencils and Erasers– Target Dollar Spot finds are perfect for this.
• Crayons and Coloring Pages– Many were donated, and I included mindfulness coloring activities from Canva.
• Pipe Cleaners– Students can bend them into shapes that represent emotions or use them as fidgets.
• DIY Stress Ball Materials– I included balloons and bags of beans from the Dollar Store so students could make their own stress balls.
• Antibacterial Wipes-A simple but helpful donation item.
• Bubble Wrap– I save bubble wrap from packages for stress-relief activities.
• Stress Balls– Conference freebies finally came in handy!
• Playdough Activities– I included donated playdough and a printable activity from Counselor Keri.
• Journaling Paper and Prompts– Perfect for reflection and emotional expression.
• Family Test Anxiety Activity Set
• Tissues
• Pinwheel Breathing Tool- Purchased from Oriental Trading to practice deep breathing strategies.
• Survey about bag (get your copy below)
• Information on how to use the bag – information about how to use the materials included (get your copy below)
• Printables and brochures from various resources like: TpT, online websites, local agencies, or conferences
• List of local counselors and counseling resources
• Book Discussion guide (get your copy below)
• Additional Resources– I also included resources from The Responsive Counselor in my grief bags

Download your copies of materials here:

Summer Support Bags

One of my favorite variations is the summer support bag.

Unlike the regular counseling bags, these are designed to be kept and not returned. They are filled with fun, calming, and mindfulness-based activities students can use during the summer months.

These kits are perfect for:

• Ending a small group
• Celebrating student growth
• Supporting students over school breaks
• Giving students coping tools they can continue using at home

They also make meaningful end-of-year gifts for students you’ve worked closely with all year.

What’s inside:

• Sidewalk chalk with mindfulness activity label. Grab the FREEBIE label here.
• Lei, sea shells and beach visualization activity. I got the Lei from Oriental Trading and the seashells from my visits to the beach (you can also find some at the Dollar Store). You can get the beach activity here or here.
• Pinwheel and breathing activity. I got the pinwheels from Oriental Trading and you can get the label here.
• Roll a topic game for families- from the Target Dollar Spot
• Bubbles and bubble breathing- bubble tubes from Target and you can get the label here.
• Slinky- I got them from Oriental Trading and you can get the label here.
• Playdough- these were a donation and can the partner activity here.
• Debrief sign for families to discuss activities.
• Outdoor scavenger hunt sheet.

Final Thoughts

These take-home support bags started with extra backpacks and donated supplies, but they became so much more than that.

They created opportunities for connection, opened conversations at home, and gave families practical tools they could actually use together.

The best part is that you do not need a huge budget to get started. Donations, community partnerships, thrift stores, conference freebies, and printable resources can go a long way.

Whether you create bags that are checked out and returned or “keep forever” support kits, these bags are a simple way to extend counseling support beyond the school walls and into students’ homes.

And sometimes, the smallest ideas end up making the biggest impact.

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