Cool for School: Products Kids and Parents Will Love
Aug. 22, 2009— -- Break out the backpacks and set the alarm clock extra early: It's back to school season. But don't be caught by the late bell.
According to the national retail federation, the average American family has less than half its back-to-school shopping complete. So sharpen your number two pencils and take note, "GMA" life and family contributor, Lee Woodruff, is sending kids back to school in style.
Graffeeti Remarkable Backpack, $30
Backpacks are big deals. For kids, how they look is just as important as what's inside. Backpacks represent who kids are. These new backpacks allow children to uniquely express themselves using dry-erase markers. They can customize it ... daily!
Inchworm Stretch Sneakers, $40
Sneakers are expensive! And when kids hit sudden growth spurts, bedrooms fill up with piles of barely worn shoes. But there's a solution. Inchworm's stretch sneakers solve both problems. The shoes grow up to three sizes longer with the push on a button.
Getting kids excited about going back to school can be a challenge but this new game can help. With this board game, kids solve math problems in fun and creative ways. Hop on one foot counting by sevens, or try to repeat tongue twisters while solving a word problem. They are made for grades 2-5.
No one tells middle and high schoolers what to wear. But there is a way to give them a choice ... for cheap. Chronicle Books' Iron-Ons let kids choose from hundreds of cool patterns. The designs are created by emerging artists who design for Urban Outfitters, American Eagle and MTV. Just grab an old shirt or shorts and iron the patterns on. They're machine washer safe. Bonus point, it's a fun thing for parents and kids to do. At only $13, that breaks down to only pennies for a custom outfit.
Greensender Custom Sigg Bottles, $21-$36
Being green is in. Everybody's going to be toting reusable water bottles to school. Greensender's Custom Sigg bottles help make them stand out. Choose everything. From the color and size, to the image, name and font. Order them online and they take about one week to arrive.
This pen is a college kid's secret weapon. You can record an entire lecture ... and more. For example, if a student is studying their notes and can't read his or her own chicken scratch, he can touch the pen to his notes, and the exact place being studied will replay out loud through the pen's microphone. It also can give you the answer to a math problem, translate four languages, and download all the notes onto a computer. The Livescribe Pulse Pen sells for $200, but can be found brand new at Staples and J&R for $150.
Every college kid is on a tight budget. But they can have a fun night without breaking the bank with this new gadget. Many kids already have an mp3 player. And most of them play video. The Optoma Pocket Projector is expensive, but is the most splurge-worthy gadget. Kids can turn any dorm room into their own personal movie theater. They can literally put their bed sheets on the wall and have a free movie night with their entire dorm hall. It can project images five feet wide. It's $300, but can be found brand new at Amazon.com for $270.