Top Ten School Supplies  
By Debbie Swanson 

A peek into this year’s school supplies promises to be full of items that are fun for kids, kind to the environment, and designed for busy parents. Here are 10 you’ll want to check out:

  Want to do your part to safeguard the planet? Planet Earth Backpacks, in cute Giraffe or Panda designs, are made with 100% organic cotton, use environmentally friendly or recycled materials, and boast a less harmful manufacturing processes. (Accessory Network Group, $14.99, at Toys R Us).
Avoid the lost and found this year! Label everything with Mabel's Labels, which stick on clothing, shoes, school supplies and backpacks, and stand up to the dishwasher, microwave, washer and dryer. This mom-created company is offering an Ultimate Back-to-School Combo totaling 108 labels in fun colors and icons. (Available for a limited time for $39 at www.mabel.ca)


Get there on time. Make clock-watching fun with a LEGO Star Wars Chewy and Stormtrooper clock. This clock features a black plastic body and black dial with Arabic-numeral indexes. Water-resistant. ($27.99, at Amazon.com)


Nurture your environmentalist. Keep little ones busy at home with Planet Earth Coloring & Activity books, featuring animals from all habitats, and Planet Earth’s Ultimate Sicker Book, filled with a variety of wildlife stickers and backgrounds. (Prices vary, at Wal-Mart, Toys R Us, Target, Borders and Barnes and Noble)


Need homework help? Microsoft Student with Encarta Premium is a suite of homework tools offering help with math, science, research, writing and foreign languages. For younger siblings, Encarta Kids (included in the Microsoft Student software) is a great way to awaken young minds. (Estimated retail price $49.95, at http://microsoft.com/msstudent)


Feed them with the animals! Kids will love pulling out their lunch when it’s packed in these cute lunch bags, available in duck, frog, dog, ladybug, elephant and penguin. Made of insulated PVC, zipper closure, the bags clean up easily with a damp cloth. By Sassafras. ($14.95 at Amazon.com)


Give her extra smarts! Girls will love the tips on studying, doing research, memorizing skills, and common sense advice on keeping their brain and body strong in the School Smarts book by American Girl. Also available: Math Smarts and Writing Smarts. Paperback. 84 pages. ($8.95, at americangirl.com)


Keep them in the know. Keep everyone’s weekly schedule in plain view with the Quartet Week Over Week dry erase magnetic calendar. This calendar provides four separate weekly panels of dry erase surface and magnetic backing. Stack each week on the fridge, update, then move the past week to the bottom. Set includes convenient marker with magnetic clip. ($12.59, at Office Depot)


Remember their playful side. Reaching for a notebook is more fun when it features favorite HASBRO games such as Monopolytm Mr. Potato Head, Operation or Candyland and more. (Prices vary; at drugstores and school supply centers everywhere)


Cherish the memories. Don’t let the school years rush past without recording some memories. Whether you’re an avid scrapbooking fan or just like to organize your photos, the School Days Scrapbooks by Memory Makers will give you guidance and inspiration. ($14.99, at Amazon.com as well as many bookstores).
   

Debbie Swanson is a freelance writer living in Westford. You can visit her website at www.swansonwriting.com.