Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Wheeled Backpacks for Girls: Disney Princesses

If your daughter is a fan of Disney Princesses, then these wheeled backpacks are perfect choices for back to school.  Your elementary aged daughter will love toting her school supplies in a rolling backpack.  These models are available through Amazon.

Disney Princess - Princess Wishes - Large 16" Rolling Backpack / Luggage - Featuring Tiana, Bell, Ariel, Cinderella, Aurora, and Snow White
Rolling Backpacks for Girls
Disney Princesses
Disney Princess Cinderella, Bell, Aurora 16" Rolling Backpack
Disney Princesses Rolling Backpack
Disney Princess 15' Large Rolling Backpack Featuring Cinderrella, Belle, Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty
Disney Princesses Wheeled Backpack

Wheeled Backpacks for Girls: Hello Kitty

Sanrio Hello Kitty Large Rolling Backpack / Luggage with Lunchbox, Lunch Tote Bag Set - 2 pieces item. great buy.
Wheeled Backpack and Matching Lunch Bag for Girls
Hello Kitty Small Rolling Backpack
Hello Kitty Wheeled Backpack
Hello Kitty Large Rolling Wheels Luggage Backpack Bag
Hello Kitty Rolling Backpack

Wheeled Backpacks for Girls: Tinkerbell

Tinkerbell is a favorite of many girls, and it's fun to include your children's favorites in their school supplies.  If you are looking for themed school bags, you'll find an amazing selection online, and you'll love these rolling backpacks for your elementary school-aged girls.
Disney Tinker Bell Large Rolling Backpack - Tapestry#23891
Wheeled Tinkerbell Backpack for Girls
Back to School Saving - Walt Disney Tinkerbell Large Rolling Backpack, Size Approximately 16"
Rolling Backpack for Girls
Tinkerbell
Tinkerbell "Little Blossom" Toddler Rolling 12" Backpack
Rolling Backpack for Girls
Tinkerbell
Tinkerbell Fairies Large Rolling Backpack
Tinkerbell Rolling Backpack
Tinker Bell - Pixie Sunflower - 12" Toddler Rolling Backpack
Tinkerbell Wheeled Backpack

Rolling Backpack Choices for Girls: Strawberry Shortcake

If your daughter is a fan of Strawberry Shortcake, then a Strawberry Shortcake wheeled backpack is a fun choice, whether its for back to school, or for travel.  A wheeled backpack is a perfect alternative to a traditional suitcase, or backpack, because it's fun to pull, and it makes it a little easier for your youngster to transport her things.  Check out these models, at Amazon.


Strawberry Shortcake Full Size Roller Rolling Backpack with Wheels
Strawberry Shortcake Wheeled Backpack



Strawberry Shortcake Luggage Backpack for Children -Small Kid Size Rolling Backpack
Blue and Pink Strawberry Shortcake Rolling Backpack



Strawberry Shortcake Rolling Backpack - Strawberry Shortcake Kids Rolling Luggage Bag
Strawberry Shortcake Wheeled Backpack for Girls

Save a Back: Backpack Solutions for Kids With Heavy Loads

A backpack seems like an essential element of back to school shopping and supplies, but in recent years, a lot of commentary has taken place about how heavy a school bag can be, for a child.  Does your child have heavy books to tote around?  Maybe you are concerned, as well. 

The issue shouldn't be as prevalent in early elementary school years, as book sizes are often smaller, and the self contained classroom makes it easy to keep all materials together.  In upper elementary classes, you may see some larger books, while at the middle and high school levels, the Science and History books, especially, seem to increase to huge sizes and weights. 



Rolling Backpack for Kids
Available at Amazon
in 20 different patterns for boys and girls.





A rolling bookbag is a great alternative to the challenge that faces the overloaded tween or teen.  In the case of many styles for girls, a wheeled backpack makes an attractive, and fun school bag.  For boys, it may be seen as a little less cool. 

A messenger bag offers a great alternative to the backpack, in that the cross body style makes it possible to carry the weight a little more evenly distributed.  Also, a messenger can be slung over a single shoulder, tote bag style.  Messenger bag styles for girls are wide and varied, though you may not find a huge selection in the aisles of your big box retailers.  Some have caught on and carry the popular style, but others don't seem to recognize the popularity of the mode.

In terms of boys' book bag styles, at the elementary level, messenger bags with favorite characters are really popular.  At the middle school, opt for something with cool graphics, or plain colors, for a more acceptable style.


High Sierra Messenger Bags
Available in several colors and patterns
for boys and girls, at Amazon.



One strap sling bags are really popular with both boys and girls, but make sure that the measurements will actually accomodate books.

One Strap Sling Backpack, 20"
Available through Amazon




You can find leads on many of these different school bag styles at the Amazon Kids page, and it's really helpful to know that many of the bookbag selections are Amazon Mom eligible, meaning that qualifying orders of $25 or greater can extend prime shipping benefits.

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Back to School Computers for Kids

With the knockout sales on computers during back to school shopping sales, it's a great time to think about updating your computer for your family, or for the kids.  The needs of your kids, with regard to a school computer, will vary based on age. 

Elementary students will have limited need for a personal computer at home, but may find it useful to research for different projects and topics in upper elementary grades.  Middle school students, on the other hand, may have greater need.  At high school levels, papers and research become more integral, and more research and printing will be entailed.

A good solution for the family with kids in many age and school levels, is a bundled package, including a desktop, monitor, and printer.   A desktop is sturdier, and will stand up to multi user handling.  Anchored in a common setting, it's able to be well supervised, and managed. 

For students who will be doing more research, writing, and printing, a netbook is an outstanding back to school computer choice.  A netbook will handle most web browsing, and will allow for good utility software, such as Microsoft Office for Students.  Invest in a wireless printer, if you want your child to be able to work from various rooms in the house. 

For the teenager, a netbook may be sufficient, but a laptop offers more memory and may be a better choice if your student expects to advance to a higher education institution.  Check out some of the most gifted computers, according to Amazon.

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Back to School Calculators

Back to school shopping often includes technological tools for older kids.  One of the main such tools is a calculator, and while there are plenty of choices, it's good to have a calculator that is reliable, and that meets the main needs of the students.  As a math teacher, I have a strong preference for Texas Instruments products, which have continued to adapt over the years.  Their products have always been top notch, and I haven't been very happy with my non TI choices.
TI-15 School Calculator
TI-15 School Calculator
Images are Clickable, for current Amazon Pricing and Details

The TI-15 is a good choice for the middle school student, with more than just the 4 functions, or operations, available on basic calculators.  Fractions, squaring and square roots, and more, this is great for most middle school topics.

Texas Instruments TI-30X IIS 2-Line Scientific Calculator
TI-30X Scientific Calculator
The TI-30 has been adapted through the years, and is a scientific calculator, including trig functions, as well as the ability to do operations and simplifications with fractions.

Texas Instruments TI-83 Plus Graphing Calculator
TI-83 Plus Graphing Calculator

Texas Instruments Graphing Calculators are top-notch, as well, with great use in high school and college mathematics courses. 


Find more Texas Instruments Calculator Choices.

Back to School Sales

The best time to watch for back to school sales is just after the Fourth of July holiday passes.  Most department stores quickly begin to move out their seasonal materials, and the back to school supplies and products quickly take their places.  While school is still a good month and a half away, the sales are now! 

Don't miss end of the school year clearances, though.  As summer hits full swing, there are often a steady stream of clearances on through the summer, in preparation.  I have found clearanced stationary products at Walgreens and CVS mid-June, clearanced socks and undies in this time frame, as well, and a variety of other useful goods.

Back to school snacks will hit the shelves in the middle of August, with significant sales in these days and into September.  As well, that will be the time to keep an eye out for snack coupons.

Online sales are significant at the end of July, and into the first part of August.  Amazon and others will even have promotional offers for online shoppers during this time frame.  Technology based businesses often provide great promotional offers in this time frame, and popular apparel stores will run great sales.

Stock up on stationary, pencils, and more, during this stage, as regular prices during the year will be much greater.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Back to School Planning

In the midst of summer, it's unlikely that your youngsters are thinking about going back to school.  In fact, it's probably the furthest thing from their minds, right?  However, early July sees the transition in seasonal displays at the local department store, and Independence Day party supplies are traded out, in favor of notebooks, rulers, pens, pencils, and backpacks.  Sales are around the corner, and your budget cringes at the costs! 

Everything from back to school fashion, to back to school packs, can be fun, or challenging.  Planning helps, so here are some tips for getting your lists together in advance.

1.  Check with your chíld's school for supply lists.  By the end of July, my small town department store has lists available at the store entrance, which makes it easy for parents to look at their own school's expectations, without having to go out of their way.  If you are in a larger town or city, this may not be the case.  However, you can contact the specific schools to inquire about a back to school supply list. You can also check out school websites, if they exist, to find out more.

If your school doesn't have a supply list, you can refer to the "School Supplies List" page of this blog, for a basic rundown of needed items.  Your child will most likely receive a school supply list the first day of school, but by that time, many of the best sales are past. 

2.  Once you have a good list of supplies, watch your local circulars for sales.  Notebooks, paper, folders, and writing/drawing supplies, will usually be at their best prices of the year during the month of July, and during the first 2 weeks of August.  This is the time to stock up. 

3.  Back to School Clothes are customarily purchased during these same months.  Great deals are advertised on socks, underwear, and jeans, particularly.  Mid-July is the time to sort through your kids' closets and drawers, pulling out clothes that are damaged, outgrown, or otherwise inappropriate. 

Make a list for each child of needs, and start watching the sales.  Depending on your children's interests and ages, you will want to include them in the selection.  Set a budget, and help them to comparison shop, as they consider their choices. 

4.  Back to School for older children means equipment beyond notebooks and filler paper.  Your tweens and teens may need calculators, depending on age, and study level.  Likewise, word processing becomes a big part of life for students at upper levels, those who will need to write papers.  Whereas 30 years ago a typewriter was essential, now, a computer is necessary for paper writing.  Trips to the library are often less useful in research, than access to online resources.  You will want to think about your back to school computer needs, as you plan for your shopping. 

5.  Back to School meal planning is important, as well.  You may want to make it easy, and allow your kids to buy lunches.  However, many parents prefer the nutritional benefits, as well as economical, when it comes to packing a lunch.  An age appropriate lunch tote or lunch box is important, and your elementary aged children will, no doubt, want something that reflects their interests.  Older children may be a different story, where character lunch totes give way for something simple.  Food containers, and thermoses, make it possible to pack hot foods, leftovers, and economical drinks.  As you decide on an approach for the coming year, make sure to plan for the best relevant supplies.

Back to school is a fun time, exciting, and a little sad, as the freedom of summer draws to a close.  Don't miss some of the best online sales, in the midst of your research, as there are often great values available in your shopping.