droolicious : School

Make Your Pencil Do the Robot

JeanneSager — Wed, 27 May 2009 16:01:00 GMT

The pencil may be the simplest tool there is, but it gets geeked out with this robot.

I haven't tried it myself yet, but sharpening pencils apparently winds the Walking Robot up (although the key winds him too, so you can have your fun when the pencils are done). Best of all, your kids will never be caught putting off homework because they don't have a sharpened pencil again!

Get it for $8.99 from Boys to Men Gifts.

More Robot fun:

Robotcha? You Betcha

School.files Keeps the Papers Tidy

Heather Kuldell — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 15:06:00 GMT

Until I had my own kid, I mistakenly thought day cares were places where kids played. Not so. Yes, the kids may play, but they’re training both you and yours to attend school by sending home a landslide of papers to see if the household can unbury itself. Reminders, recitals, Valentine’s lists, calls for volunteers ... that’s not including the art. Oh, the art.

Buttoned Up School.files ($19.95) offers a neater solution than the piles — if they’re even piles — on the kitchen table. Designed to corral papers for three kids, each section includes five folders for stuff to do, stuff to keep, stuff to return, fun stuff and calendars. Of course, there is one more lesson that you’ll have to learn: how to choose what to keep. Good luck with that!

How Does Sasha Obama Carry It All?

SunnyChanel — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 18:00:00 GMT

How does the daughter of our next president carry her books, snacks and homework? In this Trans by JanSport Super Max Backpack in purple camouflage. This extra roomy bag will surely have enough room for all the school work she’ll be getting from her brand new school Sidwell Friends, the above photo is from her first day of school. You can pick up one of these water-resistant, very durable and sturdy backpacks from Amazon for $29.95.

Creature Carryalls

Lisa Mulcahy — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 16:32:00 GMT

You’ve seen their hand-knitted cuddly creatures, but have you seen the backpacks?
I’ve never been a big fan of having too many stuffed toys. They always seem to be a major source of clutter. That’s why I love these animal backpacks, $39-$42, from Bla Bla. They’re cute, yet useful.

Bento Lunch Box

Lisa Mulcahy — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 21:30:00 GMT

Befitting of kid-o lunches that usually require multiple Ziplocs and/or Tupperware, the Bento Lunch Box is an ingenious idea.
Rooted in Japanese culture, but modified to meet the needs of kids on the go, the Bento Lunch Box, $25, includes a snap-top outer container with a sturdy utensil set and four removable inner containers that can accommodate a variety of foods. Now the PB&J won’t get squashed and fruit won’t leak into a soupy mess.

Rabbit Backpack for Lunch Munchers

Erin Behan — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:59:00 GMT

A backpack that turns into a placemat: What will they think of next? This dual unit from Munchler lunch bags ($19.50) is nontoxic and designed by children's book illustrator Stephen Savage. The insulated backpack is lead-free, food-safe and can hold up to 10 pounds.

ABC Kids Expo 2008: Dabba Walla Lunch Bags And Backpacks

Chris Ford — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 18:58:00 GMT

In India, the "dabbawalla" (Wikipedia entry) is the guy who collects the hot lunches of office workers from their home, brings them to the office, and then returns the empty boxes back. In America, Dabba Walla is a company that makes really cool neoprene lunch bags and backpacks.

What I liked best about Dabba Walla are the designs. Big and colorful, they're a lot cooler than the typical mass produced cartoon character stuff you'll get at a normal department store. And they had a stop light design, which I totally loved.

Dabba Walla bags, $38 for the luch bag and $48 for the backpack. Available at the end of October 2008. Check them out at DabbaWallaBags.com.

Think of Hello Kitty’s Office Suite as a Secretary of Sorts

Heather Kuldell — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 01:00:00 GMT

I wish I could say Lisa’s Hello Kitty watch post that put the famous feline on my brain, but the truth is that I’m just fan. (We share the same initials and we’re both Scorpios, so, yes, I’m a dork about it.) Naturally I’ve added the Hello Kitty Office Suite to our back-to-school list even though I have no intention of actually sending it out of the house. I mean, there have to be forms I’ll need to staple and return, right?

The suite features a wholesome outdoor theme: The stapler resembles a seesawing log, the paper clip holder looks like a pond and the tape dispenser is shaped like a slide. Each piece can be purchased individually for $16 at fredflare.com.

7 Days of Back-to-School Supplies: Gummy Bear Eraser/Sharpener

Heather Kuldell — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 22:25:00 GMT

I didn’t think to check it at our school’s open house, but I recall elementary school pencil sharpeners always seemed jacked up. If the whole shebang wasn’t broken, it would grind off center so the pencil was sharp but somehow, the lead wasn’t. Prevent the frustration of the sharpened-but-not-writing pencil with the Gummy Bear Eraser/Sharpener. Think of these gummies as the all-in-one pencil accessory: it sharpens, it erases and at $2.50 each at See Jane Work, you could pick up a few spares.

The Ultimate School Memory Book

Erin Behan — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 13:25:00 GMT

Chronicle puts out some clever memory books, and School Years: A Family Keepsake of Memories is no exception. I watched a woman snap up three in front of me at a local store. What's great about the book--besides the cute retro illustrations by Stephen Britt--is that it keeps all the most important school memories in one place. Inside this book is an expandable pocket for each grade that can be filled with report cards, art projects, etc., and a space for both parent and child to write memories. All of my school memories, on the other hand, are sitting, unorganized, in several cardboard boxes in my parents' basement. Available at Chronicle Books for $16.95.

Hand-knit Backpacks from Blabla Kids

Chris Ford — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 17:01:00 GMT

I must be on a backpack kick, because other than my totally awesome find of a pigeon backpack, I also found these great hand-knit backpacks from Blabla Kids. The only thing I'm wondering is, how does a hand-knit backpack only cost $42?

Every backpack is lined inside and is 12"x10". There are twelve different animal choices - everything from a lion to a butterfly to a panda (shown). They're not the biggest bags, but they seem perfect for all of your kid's little treasures. And getting them to want to carry their own stuff is 80% of the battle. Or maybe 100%.

Backpacks from BlablaKids.com, $42

Mo Willems Pigeon Go-Go Backpack

Chris Ford — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:21:00 GMT

I'm in the market right now for a backpack for my two year old daughter, and I think I might have found it. The Pigeon Go-Go Backpack is too cool not to get. Not sure what it's all about? Then click the "read more" link.

If you aren't familiar with the Pigeon, then FIRST you should run, not walk, to your favorite book store and buy a copy of Mo Willem's "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus" or my favorite, "Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late." After you and your children have been sufficiently indoctrinated, then come back to this blog post. By then, you'll think this backpack is as cool as I do. Plus, by the looks of the backpack, it seems the pigeon is about to have a hot dog party. And who doesn't love a hot dog party?

Pigeon Go-Go Backpack 14", $36.00 from yottoy.com

First Day of School Propaganda from Sesame Street

Chris Ford — Fri, 23 May 2008 20:04:00 GMT

It might be three months too early for most people for this post, but if your child is going to be attending a pre-school summer camp for the first time (like mine will), this is a DVD you might want to check out. Sesame Street - Ready for School deals with the anxieties about going to school for the first time. And as I'm sure you can guess, Elmo and Baby Bear end up loving it.

This certainly won't be the most exciting DVD in your children's DVD arsenal, but my daughter loves it. And, although this may be complete wishful thinking, if it helps her deal with the moment when I leave her at summer camp for the first time, then it will have paid for itself many times over. At least it couldn't hurt, right?

Sesame Street - Ready for School, $10.99 from Amazon.com

Backpack Boasts Big Sound

Karen — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 18:34:00 GMT

This backpack was only a matter of time with the influx of MP3 players our kids are toting. Save their eardrums from too-loud headphones and allow them to share their music with Global Design Concept's new NXT ™ speaker technology backpack. I know my 8 year old would love to rock out to tunes with his buddies and this way, they can sing and play air guitar to Green Day on the playground. Easy to use, kids plug their music playing device into a standard headphone jack, turn on the amplifier and press play.

The backpack, which retails from $59.99 - $79.99 was launched exclusively at OfficeMax® stores during the first quarter of 2007, and is available in three color combinations: Black on Black, Red on Black and Powder Blue on Black.

While I expected a price tag in that range, my hope is that it's durable enough to last an entire school year in the hands of a boy who drop-kicks his backpack at every destination.

Keepsake Album: School Years

modmom — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 17:02:00 GMT

Chronicle Books sent me a copy of School Years illustrated by S.Britt to use + review. It is adorable + will be a treasured keepsake album for recording + organizing my daughter's school mementos + milestones. "Both parent + child can fill each expandable pocket—there's one for every year from kindergarten to 12th grade—with photos, report cards, art projects + other mementos," but i want to start using it right away, so i'll add a page for nursery school.

$16.95 at Chronicle Books