Back-to-school shopping goes on year-round for Danielle Goggin. The Dix Hills mom says she buys things seasonally for her three children, aged 4, 7 and 9, rather than making one giant shopping trip.     

As parents all over Long Island think about what their kids need this school year, Goggin, a special-education teacher, says she’s only concerned with fall. She’s not thinking about winter coats because her children “are at an age where they’re growing so fast, if I buy clothes for December now, we risk not having them fit.”

With prices on the rise, most parents want to avoid that kind of misstep. A survey by the National Retail Federation shows shoppers will spend “record amounts” on back-to-school shopping this year, reaching $41.5 billion, up from $36.9 billion last year. The survey found that families with children in elementary through high school will spend an average of $890.07 on back-to-school items this year per household, a new high, about $25 more than last year’s record of $864.35.

Shopping picked up mid-July “because kids are coming home from camp,” says Spencer Klein, an owner of Denny’s, a chain of children’s shops. And, yes, he acknowledges prices are up. “Things in general are more expensive,” he says. “You go to the gas pump, it’s more. You go to the supermarket, it’s more.” Klein says the store is working with vendors to keep prices down, but he notes a tough retail market with many unknowns, like late deliveries.

“Everything’s just a little more expensive,” says Westbury resident Susan Stewart, whose 9-year-old daughter attends St. Aidan in Williston Park. Like most parents, Stewart watches for sales and coupon codes. And since uniforms are required at St. Aidan, Stewart says she has become adept at letting out hems and moving buttons “to get another year out of the outfit.”

Convenience is most important for Jessica Bartels, a Commack mom of two who describes herself as a “necessity type of shopper.” Bartels, who works in marketing, says she replaces things as they run low, or when they’re outgrown, but avoids a big shopping trip for all new clothes. “If they still fit into what they wore last year, we’re good to go.”

She prefers shopping online for her kids, aged 5 and 9, because it’s easier. “I have very energetic children, so taking them out shopping is a burden.” And, she adds, shopping online actually ends up saving money because it’s easier to say no. “I let them look online and they can pick from three choices.”

What they spent

Candice O’Brien, 55, retired NYPD detective of East Northport, and daughter Casey O’Brien, 16

• $400 on school uniform and shoes
• $40 JanSport backpack
• $25-$30 on folders and notebooks
• Total: $470

Casey, who's going into junior year at St. Anthony's in South Huntington, collects school supplies from her softball team and from Facebook parent pages to donate to the Sharing Table at the Suffolk Y JCC in Commack. “You need school supplies in order to succeed. Every student deserves to have that. Every kid deserves a shot in the classroom," Casey says.

Goggin starts her shopping midsummer, when she orders supplies like pencils and notebooks from the school district. Everything the teacher requested comes in a box, labeled with your child’s name, she says. “I’s the greatest thing ever,” she says. And she saves money in the long run — and time. It cuts out running around “to find that last box of Crayola markers,” she says, and the kids don’t get tempted “by all those fun folders and pencil cases.”

At Denny’s Plainview on a recent Saturday, back-to-school shoppers seemed drawn to activewear. Flannel is big for girls, says store manager Aileen Schreiber, grabbing a pair of pants that look suspiciously like pajamas.

“That’s what they wear to school,” she says.

Boys are heavily into sports — Air Jordan, Nike, team jerseys — and all the kids love rock ’n’ roll, she notes, pointing to a display of Pink Floyd and Def Leppard tees (never mind that the kids might hardly know those bands).

What they expect to spend

Danielle Goggin, of Dix Hills, and her three kids aged 4, 7 and 9

• $130 on school supplies for all three kids
• $250 on backpacks, lunchboxes and water bottles for all
• $200 per child on clothing
• Total: $980

Charlie Cook, director of kids marketing at Old Navy (where many local parents say they shop), confirms that clothing with a varsity feel is a trend for boys and girls, along with flannel and fleece.

Goggin says while her younger daughter isn’t too picky, her 7-year-old is beginning to find her sense of style. “She’s transitioning from cutesy bags with pompons and unicorns,” she says, “to tie-dye and more grown up looks.” Her daughter is also noticing brand names, says Goggin, which led to the purchase of a JanSport backpack. “It seemed more sturdy than others,” she says, a good financial decision since last year she had to replace schoolbags before school was out. 

It’s more about comfort than style for Bartels’ kids. Her daughter favors leggings and T-shirts, her son cotton sweatpants (though at 5, he’s still into superheroes). As for saving money, Bartels pays attention to reward programs more than big sales, which she believes can force you to overspend. “If I have to spend $50 to get 10 percent off, I’m spending more than I intended.”

What are the biggest back-to-school trends?

Backpacks with contemporary designs, water bottles with fidget handles, pencil boxes with secret compartments and sneakers with charms are among the hottest back-to-school products your kids may be looking for. Here are 10 must-haves this September: