The countdown is on to back to school! Rather than spending a boatload of money on all the things your kids want, invest in quality products that will last longer than a school year. Here are my picks that include must-have tech items, eco-friendly options, and those that allow for personalization but are flexible enough to change as your kids grow and their interests change. Best of luck with the start of a new school year!
Personalize It
Whether pencil boxes, binders, or backpacks, everyone likes to put their own touch on their belongings so they don’t look like everyone else’s. Let your child have items as unique as they are with personalization products from these companies:
 |
| Mabel’s Labels new Tween labels |
Mabel’s Labels— One of our back to school essentials! This year Mabel’s introduced the their newTween Pack($21) that makes labeling your stuff uber cool thanks to graphic designs that go beyond the rectangle. For value, you can’t beatMabel’s Labels Ultimate Back to School Combo($42) with custom durable labels for all the things that your kids can lose during the course of the school year. Skinny Minis work well for pencils and USB drives, Tag Mates and Shoe Labels help lost clothing and shoes make it back to your child, while Bag Tags and Teeny Tags are perfect for attaching to lunchboxes and backpacks. There are plenty of designs to suit every personality and I personally credit Mabel’s for ensuring that our stuff always makes it home. Thanks Mabel’s!
 |
| Personalize backpacks, messenger bags, and more with Gutzy Gear |
Gutzy Gear— At our school personalizing backpacks means attaching endless keychains to the top handle. The kids love how they jingle as they walk but I hate taking them off when it’s time to put the grubby backpack in the wash. Enter Gutzy Gear! These soft fabric covers slip over backpack straps and feature Velcro patches that can be attached, repositioned, traded, and reattached over and over and over again. There are 100 reusable Gutzies that include allow kids to showcase their unique personalities, hobbies and passions, and love for favorite characters including Avengers, Monster High, Marvel® superheroes, and more.
Pack It
Kids are notoriously hard on their belongings but nothing takes the brunt more than their backpacks and lunchboxes. Stuffed with binders, papers, and an endless assortment of trinkets picked up from who-knows-where, a backpack takes a beating. I prefer to invest in a backpack that I know will last beyond a school year. Same thing with lunchboxes! At our school they’re thrown in bins and mingle with other lunchboxes on a daily basis. I want one that will hold up but is easy to clean because nothing is worse than a grimy lunchbox filled with crumbs and food bits! Eww!
 |
| Tips from Lands’ End on packing backpacks to lessen strain on your child’s back |
Lands’ End Backpacks, Messenger Bagsand Lunch Boxes— I love Lands’ End bags for their durability but as I learned about the Lands’ End Back to School event, one size does not fit all! Lands’ End offers their redesigned and feather light backpacks in all sizes because what size backpack works for your middle schooler will not be best for your preschooler! And their EZ Wipe Lunch Boxes couldn’t be easier to clean! Open and wipe! That’s it!
 |
| Super hero backpacks and lunch boxes from SuperME |
SuperME Cape Backpacks & Messenger Bag Lunchboxes— What kid doesn’t want to channel their inner superhero? Inspired by their own childrens’ love of dress up, founders Daphne Kaufer and Rena Stern created the SuperME line as functional products with an element of fun that would also be a way for kids to express their individuality. Their Cape Backpacks feature built in capes that can be tucked away when a superhero enters the classroom while the Messenger Style Lunch Bags have a detachable utility belt that can double as a hands-free way to carry necessary nourishment to keep adventurers going all day long. Both products have a place on the front for interchangeable patches ($5 each) that can serve as your superhero’s symbol. The shield shaped patches attach securely with Velcro but can also come off in the event that your superhero needs a new alter ego! And the fact that they’re well made, makes me think that they will pass my test in lasting the whole year through and beyond!
 |
| Reusable LunchSkins |
LunchSkins— We’ve been packing a waste-free lunch for years and one of my favorite products are LunchSkins. Made of dishwasher safe thick cotton with a food-safe polyurethane liner, LunchSkins feature a Velcro closure to secure snacks and sandwiches. LunchSkins come in snack size, sandwich size, and a larger sub size, just like your favorite plastic baggies but are much more eco-friendly. We’ve never lost a LunchSkin to the trash because the kids take pride in carrying their colorful reusable LunchSkins as our way of helping to reduce everyday waste.
Complete It:
Homework is a little more tolerable with the right tools to motivate learners of any age. From school supplies to technology, here are some products that are not only essential for some ages but provide motivation to keep on learning.
TI-Nspire CX— During BlogHer I had the pleasure of participating in a hands-on breakfast that involved experience data collection using a TInspire and wow! Math and science were never this cool when I was in school! With a bright full color screen and the ability to add accessories like a temperature probe, TInspire is far more than a graphing calculator. It’s an essential tool for kids to use in the classroom and to complete work at home thanks to a full color screen, 3D graphic capabilities, and the ability to upload personal photos in order to bring classroom concepts to life. It may be a significant investment but makes learning interactive and can serve to motivate even the most math and science adverse and is sure to last from middle school through college. It also comes with software that works on desktop/laptop computers for easy transfer of schoolwork to home for homework purposes and free homework assistance. Yes, free homework assistance! How priceless!
Nook— Books are heavy! Rather than packing a bag full of books and carting it all over the place, invest in a Nook. Favorite titles along with required reading can be housed on one device rather than lugging around multiple books. Nook Simple Touch starts at $99 but I prefer the Nook Simple Touch with Glow Light for just a little more ($139). Both Simple Touch products feature extended battery life and are extremely light, but Simple Touch with Glow Light has an anti-glare screen that is easier on young eyes because it mimics the look of paper. Barnes & Noble provides in-store support to ensure you can go to your local store to troubleshoot any problems. Little Miss Techie loves her Nook Simple Touch with Glow Light but if you’re looking for an eReader with more capabilities, I recommend either the Nook Color or Nook Tablet. Prices for both devices were recently reduced so you can purchase a Nook Color for $149 while a Nook Table is $179.
Lock It!— Do you remember the days of not having enough time between middle and high school classes and frantically spinning the dial of your combination lock to grab your books only to not get the combination right? Kids can secure their gear with the innovative DialSpeed 1500 EDBX Lock from MasterLock. Unlike traditional locks, Dial Speed is directional and digital. Kids push the center portion up, down, left, or right. Pushing the button up-left-left-down is a lot easier than turning the dial to hit those little number marks and only requires one hand when the other is laden with books! Use the combination that comes with the lock or create a custom one using 4-12 directions.Back to School Bonuses
While you’re shopping, keep an eye out for bonuses from companies whose products you’re probably buying anyways!
 |
| Look for Box Tops on Hanes products! |
Hanes— From socks to undershirts to underwear, Hanes is a staple in our house! Socks that feature color matching toes make it easier to pair up the kids’ socks and the tagless Comfort Blend Undershirts can’t be beat for softness. Since you’re probably stocking up on essentials, make sure to look for the packages that feature Box Tops that you can clip and send into your school. You can also order Hanes products and have them shipped right to your door from Hanes.comfor 100 bonus Box Tops! Each Box Top is worth 10 cents for your school and Box Tops add up quickly!
Frito Lay Multipacks and Exclusive Skylanders Spyro’s Adventure Sidekicks— As much as I prefer packing snacks in my LunchSkins, there are times where I need individual packs to feed a crowd. Just in time for back to school, specially marked Frito-Lay Multipacks include a card insert that is redeemable for one of four new exclusive Skylanders Sidekick character figures. If you’re buying multipacks containing Lay’s potato chips, SunChips multigrain snacks, Doritos tortilla chips, Cheetos cheese flavored snacks and Fritos corn chips, lookout for the specially marked Skylanders ones to get your bonus figures!
Images courtesy of the companies mentioned in this gift guide. Some products were personally purchased while others were provided as samples for promotional consideration. Some companies also invited me to attend events held during BlogHer which gift bags were received. No additional compensation was received for this post. Amazon Affiliate links are included.
Thanks for reading Tech Savvy Mama through your feed!
Original post by Tech Savvy Mama
©2012
I'm a DC Metro area dwelling mom of 2 and former teacher with an background in classroom technology integration & school administration. I am a family internet safety & security expert, social media consultant, columnist for Parents.com and Scholastic Parents, dog owner, car enthusiast, and an avid gardener. I also work for Clever Girls Collective. {
