Though we’re still in July, it’s already time to start talking back to school. And while kids may not like the prospect of returning to the classroom, they usually enjoy the process of buying new school supplies. Even those of us who are a little too old for spelling class may still remember the satisfaction of showing up on the first day with a unicorn Trapper Keeper® or a new “A-Team” lunchbox.
Needless to say, school supplies have advanced a little since the heyday of Mr. T. Recently, office-supply leader Staples released a list of the top ten products for back to school. And, while items like notebooks, folders and number-two pencils remain book-bag essentials, most of the school supplies on the Staples list reflect a far more modern mentality. Many of them even echo the latest trends in inventions and technology.
Take for example the BUILT® Laptop Sleeve (pictured), which makes it easier and safer for children to transport laptops to and from school. Priced at $29.99 for a 15-inch or $34.99 for a 17-inch, the sleeve features an extra-thick neoprene cushion and its hourglass design assures that a computer is secured tightly in place. While this item might make many older people wonder if we’re actually to the point where kids are commonly taking laptops to school – the answer is yes. In fact, many companies are now producing smaller laptops specifically for middle-school kids. Computers play important roles elsewhere on the Staples list too, with the Dell Studio™ Notebook computer ($799.98), the Omnitech 1GB USB Flash Drive ($9.99!) and the HP Photosmart C4480 All-in-One printer ($99.99) also getting nods.
On the less technological (and pricey) end of the spectrum, Staples suggests a number of other interesting new products. The Staples Problem Pad ($3.99) was actually invented by an 11-year-old for the Staples Invention Quest Kids® contest. The company apparently liked the invention enough to manufacture and market it. The Pad is a 3-ring binder that functions as an erasable white board. Kids can use it to make quick notes or do math problems on the fly, and then wipe the slate clean when they no longer need the information. Meanwhile, the Magna Card® Locker Accessories Kit ($9.99) serves a slightly less practical function – though that certainly won’t make it any less desirable to kids. Purely for aesthetic purposes (no learning involved), the kit includes locker wallpaper, a magnetic frame, a mirror, and pairs of word expressions, metallic magnets, jewel magnets and magnetic dry-erase shapes.
For a more traditional back-to-school buy that also incorporate the mother of all new product trends - going green – Staples offers eco-friendly Notebooks and Composition Books (varying prices). These products are made from 80-percent Bagasse, which is the fiber left over after the juice has been extracted from sugarcane. Though, in all honesty, kids will probably be less interested in the Bagasse than the colors on the cover.
All products and prices listed are available at Staples stores .
