Summer is coming to a close, the school buses are getting their tune-ups and before you know it, your kids will be heading back to class. Soon we’ll all be back into our regular routines again, and you know what that means: The back-to-school shopping season is upon us, and your kids need new tech tools!
Once upon a time, back-to-school sales meant picking up a new lunchbox, a couple of notebooks and box of pencils. Today, there’s so much more to consider. Most schools now send out a list of required supplies, and tech tools are often a necessity (or at least strongly recommended).
What does your child really need to be ready for the new school year? Check out these top 10 tech tools that are sure to help your kids get the new school year off to a great start.
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The Acer Chromebook
Get it for $149.00 on Amazon: Even first and second graders are learning to type and print out reports in language arts, and you might be surprised by how many homework assignments these days are actually online games to practice skills. Your child is going to need access to the Internet, but a full laptop and software suite is probably more computing power than they need. An Acer Chromebook is the perfect solution: The lightweight, miniature laptop has a full keyboard for effective typing practice and enough computing power to let your child use the cloud to save documents and browse the web. This is an especially good choice if your school is now one of the thousands of “Google Schools.” Photo from Amazon.
The TI-83 Plus Graphing Calculator
Get it for $88.00 from Walmart: No doubt you’ve heard all about Common Core math, and whether you’re a fan or not, your child may be asked to use a calculator to solve math problems at a much younger age than you ever did. Get a good graphing calculator now, and your child will be able to use it all through advanced math classes in high school and even on the SAT. The TI-83 is the gold standard of student graphing calculators, and it’s better than using an iPad calculator app to cut down on potential distractions during math homework time. Photo from Walmart
Kidz Gear Wired Headphones
Get it for $19.99 at Kidz Gear online: When your child is assigned to complete online homework, the programs often make a lot of noise. Save your sanity and buy Junior a good set of headphones; this way, you will never have to hear those electronic theme songs again. Kidz Gear headphones come in a variety of fun colors and have volume control to protect your young one’s ears. Plus, when kids begin studying a foreign language, they often need headphones for lab work, so these can be a timely investment. Also available at Target and Best Buy.
Google Calendar App
Get it free on Google Play: The Google Calendar app can be used on any iOS or Android device. The beauty of this tech tool is that you can set up a calendar for every member of the family and then sync them across all devices. If you assign Mom, Dad and the kids each their own color, you’ll be able to see at a glance who has piano lessons or soccer practice after school. When a new event comes up, it will instantly show up on everyone’s phone or tablet, so your family will never miss an appointment again.
Merriam-Webster Dictionary App
Get it free on Google Play: Kids of all ages need a great dictionary, and it’s easy to stay up-to-date with an app that regularly regrades itself instead of an old-fashioned book that will be outdated in a few years. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary is available on both iTunes and Google Play, and it has tons of great features like pronunciation recordings, usage examples and thesaurus functions. Premium Version is $2.99, does not show ads, and contains some additional content.
Talking Alarm Clock and Nightlight
Get it for $39.19 on Amazon: Make the mornings hassle-free with an alarm clock made just for kids. The Teach Me Time! Talking Alarm Clock has both analog and digital time and a game to help the littlest kids learn to tell time. It also has interchangeable pieces to let your child choose a favorite color, and it lights up for use as a gentle nightlight.
The OmieBox
Get it for $49.50 from OmniBox: If you’re always on the lookout for a better lunchbox, the new OmieBox might just be the tech boost you’re looking for. The box is easy to open and doesn’t require lots of little containers, so it’s perfect for small hands. There’s an air-tight thermal container that lets you pack hot items right next to cold ones, which should make picky eaters happy. It also comes in some great colors, so you’re sure to find one that goes with your kid’s backpack.
The iBrainstorm App
Get it free from Apple itunes: Help your kids get their ideas organized with iBrainstorm. They can use these fun, virtual sticky notes to take notes, which they can save, share and organize however they like. It’s perfect for brainstorming ideas for a story, report or project — they can pin them to the virtual bulletin board and play around with the organization of those ideas before starting to write.
The ibitz Wireless Pedometer
Get it from Geopalz, $24.99: If you’re always trying to get your kids off the couch and doing more exercise, try motivating them with the ibitz Pedometer. These compact tech tools come in lots of great colors and clip right to your child’s belt or shoe. It can sync to your smartphone or to a GeoPalz app, letting kids unlock new levels to a game when they meet their fitness goals.
The StudyBlue App
Get it free from Studyblue: Studying for a big test can be overwhelming, but the StudyBlue app can help your child quickly make flashcards to quiz themselves. In addition to keeping all your child’s study notes in one handy place, the app also keeps track of progress; including what they master and what needs more work. It also lets kids share flashcards with friends or search online for ready-made flashcards on hundreds of topics.