Our favorite back-to-school products
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Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Duo 3-ring binder
You might think a binder is a binder
is a binder. Not so. This year, Duo is out with this school year's
must-have: a combination 1-inch three-ring binder with a
seven-pocket expanding file folder.
Our kid tester didn't want to give it back to us. This colorful binder will keep your kids super-organized (Hint: also buy one for yourself for all those important papers that come home in the backpack.) Unfortunately, they are not available in stores yet but can be purchased online.
$9.95 through September, plus shipping, amazon.com.
Mabel's Labels
Kids are always losing their water bottles-or
worse, drinking out of someone else's by mistake. Mabel's Labels'
Sticky Labels, personalized with your child's name, are designed to
stick to anything. They even stay on through the dishwasher.
A pack of 45 is $18.50.
We also like the company's Shoe Labels so you can label that extra pair of gym shoes your child must keep at school.
$18.50 for a pack of 24. mabel.ca.
Take the pain out of shots
Kids despise the thought of those
back-to-school shots. Don't even think about a blood draw. But a
new device, Buzzy, designed by a pediatrician, can help. Buzzy's
reusable blue gel frozen wings (they stay frozen for about 10
minutes) and vibrations are enough to take the pain right out of
shots-while giving your child something else to focus on.
Parents can hold Buzzy in place, giving even more comfort during the momentary stick.
$34.95, buzzy4shots.com.
Eco Earth-friendly lunch bags
Sure, it's not a big plastic Superman
lunch box, but The Lunch Bag by Eco Bags has natural, plain and
simple down to a science. Made with organic cotton, your kids will
feel proud of their waste-free choices at the lunch table this
year.
$9.99, ecobags.com
Snack Happened reusable snack bag
Kids will love the Snack Happened
reusable bags by itzy ritzy, made right here in Chicago. The
colorful washable, zippered and water-resistant bags will let your
kids express their own style and care for the environment by
shunning those plastic baggies that always end up in the trash.
Approved by the FDA as food safe, these cool bags are great for many purposes and all ages (even you, mom!)
$9.95, itzyritzy.com.
Bamboo utensils
Forget the plastic spoons, knives and
forks. To-Go Ware's bamboo utensil set is a great zero-waste option
for school. The reusable spoon, fork, knife and chopsticks come in
a handy carrying case that clips onto a lunch box so it doesn't get
lost.
Plus the slogan, "Reduce your forkprint," is just plain fun.
$11.95, to-goware.com.
