Cool School Tools for 2008

Before you finalize your school shopping list, take a look at these new products that make this time of year special!

Mini Math Tutor
This learning toy provides children with a fun alternative to traditional flashcards whether they are math whizzes or not. The Quercetti Tables Tube is small enough for your child to carry in his or her pocket. Available at www.intplay.com or your local specialty toy retailer. MSRP: $24.99

Rest Eazzzy
My NapPak is an all-in-one rolled-up quilted mat with an attached pillow and fleece blanket that makes nap time comfy and convenient. It comes in a variety of colors and designs and can be personalized with a monogram as well. Available at www.MyNapPak.com. MSRP: $41-$51, monogramming $10

Lunch Time Style
The Munchlers Wearable Lunch packs by BuiltNY are perfect for your preschooler or kindergartner and come in the most adorable designs: Lefty the Dog, Meadow the Rabbit and Benny the Tiger. For the rising middle-schooler, check out the Fugu Lunch Tote, which has a separate beverage compartment that prevents squishing. Check out everything else Built has to offer at www.builtny.com. MSRP: $20-$100

Ready, Set, Write!
The RediSpace Transitional Notebooks are designed to help your 1st-, 2nd- or 3rd-grader with the transition from primary paper to wide-rule notebook paper. The unique layout helps increase writing legibility, speed, spacing, and, most importantly, staying within the margins. When your child is done with an assignment, he can easily tear out the page and hand it in to his teacher. The Storybook Paper has all of the features of the Transitional Notebook Paper but also includes a space at the top where your child can illustrate stories, write down key notes or math equations, or draw diagrams. Available at www.mead.com or your local school supply store. MSRP: $3.59

Earth-Friendly Writing Tools
For the Eco-savvy child, check out these two writing tools. The Zebra Jimnie Clip Recycled Retractable Ballpoint Pen is made from car headlights, compact discs and recycled cell phones. Students will also love the Foray Multifunction Ballpoint Pen and Pencils which are refillable and reusable. Available at Office Depot. MSRP: $11.99-$15.99

Holdin’ it Together
Whether it’s in the lobby of the dentist office or on the sidelines at the game, students are squeezing in homework outside of traditional study areas. To help them with homework on the go, the Five Star Clipboard affords a flat, portable work surface with interior storage pockets to cart note cards and other small handouts. A Velcro closure keeps it all together. Available at office supply stores. MSRP: $7.99

Spelling Is F-U-N
This unique learning toy from Franklin will provide your child with hours of spelling fun, whether alone or with a group of friends in the classroom or at home. The Speaking Spelling Bee is the first in Franklin’s new line of color screen interactive products that includes SD card slots, USB connectivity and a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. It has the ability to connect to your television — enhancing the learning environment through share interactivity. Not only does this device have a 7,000-word vocabulary, but it also includes the Speaking Merriam-Webster Intermediate Dictionary, Thesaurus, Rhyming Dictionary, Franklin’s phonetic spell correction and a reading assignment tracker. Ages 8 and up. Available at www.franklin.com. MSRP: $99.95

In the Pocket
The original Seat Sack is your child’s personal and practical answer to classroom storage. Each Seat Sack slips over the back of ANY chair and its integrated pocket will provide convenient out-of-the way storage for all kinds of items, including pencils, rulers, pens, calculators and homework — even laptop computers. It provides handy individual storage space with less time wasted gathering and putting away supplies. The Handy Sack is a great way to compliment the Seat Sack. It attaches to any metal surface and holds all kinds of school tools. Both the Seat Sack and Handy Sack are available at www.seatsack.com. MSRP: $4.99-$10.99

Their First Computer
The Computer Cool School by Fisher-Price provides a fun way for preschoolers to prepare for school! It includes five learning centers — reading and writing, math, science, art, and music — plus cool “field trip” activities. For added fun, an adorable sidekick appears on the computer screen encouraging kids to interact and rewarding kids with fun phrases and sounds. Children can print out a story, their artwork creations and supplemental worksheet activities from each learning center. Additional learning CDs are also available, including Clifford, Dora, Scooby-Doo and Sesame Street. Available at your local toy store. MSRP: $59.99

Homework Solutions
The H2O/Homework Organizer is the only assignment notebook that provides an organizational system to “step” students through the homework process to completion.
It improves grades by focusing efforts more productively and reduces procrastination by increasing time awareness and scheduling skills without added time and expense! Available at www.homework-organizer.com. MSRP: $12.95. Discounts available for bulk orders.

Better Backpacks
TUG backpacks are stylish, trendy and functional and include reinforced zippers and multiple compartments for organization — perfect for heavy books, calculators, writing instruments, cell phones, MP3 players and more. They come in a variety of styles, patterns and themes and have ergonomically-designed back and shoulder padding for comfort. Available at Office Depot. MSRP: $5.99-$29.99

Fast Facts for Kids
The second volume of The Old Farmer’s Almanac for Kids is jam packed with fun and fascinating facts on many of the subjects they will learn about in school. This book gives students a variety of answers to the age-old question, “What did you do on your summer vacation?” Learn about weather, astronomy, nature, sports, farming, gardening and history. On top of all this, there are plenty of projects that will keep your child busy until their first day of school. Available at bookstores now. MSRP: $9.95

Find more back-to-school products — books, lunch bag fillers and Web sites — online at www.charlotteparent.com/articles