We don’t want to burst your bubble. It’s summer. There’s still time for a beach trip or art camp. But your parents are probably looking ahead and asking a few questions: Is your old lunchbox in good shape? Is your backpack big enough for middle school? Where’s that list of supplies your school sent out in June?
It’s almost back-to-school time, and there are lots of decisions to be made. KidsPost did some early shopping to see what’s new. With the help of kids from Two Rivers Public Charter School in Washington, we’ll show you our picks for lunch, locker and study. They’re colorful, fun and even practical (something Mom and Dad appreciate), and they may get you geared up for the new school year.
Younger kids
Backpacks are a way to show off your style. This year there are lots of colorful themes and patterns for kids who l
ike animals, sports, polka dots or camouflage. But style isn’t everything.
Backpacks also need to be sturdy and have room for your books and pencils.
Pottery Barn Kids’ Mackenzie packs ($45.50 for large; $7 for initials or name) will satisfy kids and parents. They come in eight patterns for boys and 15 for girls. (Our favorites: gray soccer or any of the owl prints.) The fabric is thick, and the shoulder straps are well padded. There are pockets for pencils, drinks and lunch money. There’s an inside clip for keys and two large outside clips to hold your lunch box. You can have your name or initials sewn onto the bag so it doesn’t get mixed up with someone else’s. It comes in four sizes, but large would be the best pick for most elementary school students.
At www.potterybarnkids.com (free shipping). A smaller selection is at Pottery Barn Kids stores.
For keeping those pencils, erasers and markers organized at home and in the classroom, a
pencil case
is a big help. If you want something
cute that won’t fall apart, Pottery Barn Kids has pencil cases ($9.50) that match its backpacks. But if you have a lot of supplies, you will need something larger. American Studio’s Tech Gear line offers a big pencil pouch for a little price ($2.97). The case has a main pocket that expands if you undo a zipper along the bottom. It has two other zippered sections and comes in four colors, including a bright pink
and royal blue. It’s made to fit in a three-ring binder, which makes this good for middle schoolers too.
At www.potterybarnkids.com (free shipping). Tech Gear case at Wal-Mart stores through August.
Some kids hate sitting at a desk to do homework. A lap desk can make things easier. Vera Bradley’s new one ($28), which comes in three flowery patterns, is lightweight, comfortable and colorful. It’s big enough to hold a laptop computer. Its bottom features a pillow and its top wipes clean.
At Vera Bradley stores and www.verabradley.com.
→Older kids
When you’re juggling seven or eight classes (and all those books), you have to keep organized. It might be time to retire the backpack you’ve had since third grade. Our choice for middle schoolers is L.L. Bean’s North Ridge backpack ($59.95). The new design features a main compartment large enough for several notebooks and a binder; a padded laptop compartment; a front pocket with an organizer for school supplies, cellphone and keys; mesh drink holders; bungee cords to hold a jacket; a fleece-lined small pocket for a music player; and a waist clip for the days you lug home all those heavy textbooks. It comes in seven colors.
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