Experts named the reasons for the increase in the cost of a child's fees to school in 2026

Preparing children for school in 2026 will become more expensive due to inflation, rising production and logistical costs, but parents are increasingly moving to a more rational approach and trying to choose products based on price and quality. Experts told us what factors will affect the cost of school fees and how families will adapt to the new conditions. All the details are in the Izvestia article.

Why are school fees getting more expensive

Evgenia Veselova, an expert at the financial marketplace Compare, noted that the main reasons for the increase in school preparation costs remain inflation, rising production and logistics costs, as well as a seasonal surge in demand at the end of summer. The most noticeable changes are in the cost of clothing, shoes, backpacks, and some office supplies, where the share of imported components and brand margins is higher.

At the same time, official estimates of the cost of school enrollment often do not take into account the additional costs that parents incur during the preparation process. The final receipt may include a change of shoes, sports uniforms, additional notebooks, covers, bouquets and gifts to teachers, as well as other small purchases.

According to Veselova, parents in recent years have begun to approach fees more consciously: they start buying necessary things earlier, compare offers from different sellers, use discounts and loyalty programs. Increasingly, families are joining forces and purchasing office supplies in bulk — for example, for the entire class at once.

Imports as a price control factor

Andrey Kogan, founder of the All-China company, chairman of the Committee for work with China of the Association of Exporters and Importers, believes that the dynamics of prices for school supplies in 2026 will be heterogeneous. Some categories may become more expensive, while others may retain value or even become cheaper due to competition.

At the same time, Chinese imports continue to restrain price growth. In the first quarter of 2026, clothing shipments from China to Russia increased by 60% year-on-year, reaching a record high. The increase in supply turned out to be higher than the rate of increase in demand, which limits the sellers' ability to significantly raise prices.

It is difficult for Russian manufacturers to compete with mass-produced Asian products due to the volume of production. According to Kogan, even for a product such as pencils, the price difference between Russian and Chinese products remains small due to the limited scale of domestic production.

How to avoid conflicts when shopping

Anastasia Helemelya, a clinical psychologist and CBT therapist, notes that school fees become not only a financial but also an emotional burden for many parents. Constantly calculating expenses and having to make multiple decisions can increase anxiety and a sense of lack of resources.

According to the expert, the pressure is especially strong because of the comparison with other families. Parents may feel guilty if they cannot purchase expensive branded items, as they perceive purchases as an indicator of their own concern for the child.

However, as the psychologist explains, the child often perceives not the thing itself, but the emotional state of the parents. Anxiety about debt and financial instability can affect him more than the lack of a popular backpack or clothing of a certain brand.

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To reduce tension, Helemela advises dividing the areas of responsibility: the adult determines the budget, and the child chooses the appearance of things within its framework. This approach helps to maintain a sense of participation and independence.

The expert also recommends discussing the value of money with children using specific examples. For example, to compare the cost of a thing with other family opportunities and explain the difference between necessity and desire.

According to experts, preparing for school in 2026 will require parents not only financial planning, but also the ability to maintain a calm atmosphere in the family. The main result of school fees should not be an expensive purchase, but a feeling of support and confidence from the child.