It’s that time of year again for newly sharpened pencils, an updated fall wardrobe, and some seriously last minute summer reading. Back to school season is all about making sure your kids are starting off the new school year feeling prepared and comfortable.
While it’s easy to get swept up in all of the excitement (and sometimes stress) that comes with back to school shopping, it’s best to stick to the basics. Make sure your kids have all of their supplies ready and packed the night before, and don’t go overboard with unnecessary accessories and gadgets. However, there are some inexpensive ways to make sure kids have their personal styles reflected in their school supplies without breaking the bank. Here are my favorite back to school accessories that no kid should go without:
Tsum Tsum Deluxe Pencil Case (Jakks Pacific)
The collectability and sheer charming nature of Disney’s Tsum Tsums comes to Jakks Pacific’s new stationery line for the perfect back to school kit. This deluxe case offers all of the basics themed with the popular, tiny, and stackable Disney characters that kids love most. The 44-piece set includes colored pencils, markers, a ruler, a sharpener, an eraser, math tools, a notepad, and more. The line also includes an agenda book, a holographic case, tape, and more accessories for kids to really complete their collections. No stationery set can stack up to this one!
Alex Toys Color an Owl Lunch Bag Kit (Alex Brands)
It’s time to color inside the lines! This year is all about customization, and kids can decorate their very own lunch bag with this bag and accessories. The kit comes with five brightly colored permanent markers for kids to use, and the bag itself has an adorable design, is insulated, and is the perfect size for kids to use during lunchtime. Alex Toys’ Color a Bag line also includes additional lunch bags, messenger bags, tote bags, and more for kids to color and adorn. Kids will love showing off their new bag when it’s time to take a break from class!
Space Racer and Fairy Flyer Kids Backpacks w/ LEDs (Bixbee)
Kids can fly up, up, and away to school with these enchanting backpacks. Little fairy princesses and space racers will be in the envy of all their classmates with these backpacks that feature light up wings. Parents will love all of the practical features, such as a spacious compartment, included lunchbox, padded adjustable shoulder bags, side pockets, ID card holder, and more. The sky is not the limit!
Crayon Factory (Crayola)
Get ready to doodle in style! Almost every back to school shopping list has a brand new box of crayons on it—at least they were for my kids! Now, kids can create their very own crayon creations, such as a car, a heart, or a puppy, with the Crayon Factory. Kids can use new or old crayon pieces to mix and match different colors and melt them down, add a special solution, and mold to whatever custom piece they want to make. This activity will get kids exciting about sharing their designs with their friends on the first day of school.
Laurie Schacht, also known as The Toy Insider Mom, has covered the toy industry for more than 20 years. The Toy Insider is a year-round resource for parents, grandparents and other gift-givers looking for the best toys for their kids. The Toy Insider also produces an annual holiday gift guide featured in Family Circle magazine. Visit thetoyinsider.com for the latest toy news, reviews, giveaways, and more.
Follow Laurie Schacht on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ToyInsiderMom