Everyone, both teachers and students alike, appreciates something new when school time rolls around again. Here’s my round-up of some our favorite snacks, supplies, toys and self-care products:
Pen Heaven
A good pen will be one of your most-used tools over the years as a homeschooling mother. Why not buy some that are long-lasting and beautiful instead of cheap throw-away packs of subpar pens?
Pen Heaven takes you above and beyond when it comes to writing instruments. There’s luxury in the details and subtle elements that appeal to the pen snob in me! Look at the Caran D’Aache’s signature octagonal barrel and polished chrome trim (below). Smooth as butter to write with and constructed in Switzerland from top-quality materials.
You can also choose from classic and modern fountain pens, luxury journals, diaries and Filofax organizers while you’re shopping for pens! Need a gift? Custom engraving is also available at Pen Heaven.
Crunchsters Sprouted Protein Snacks
Made from savory, sprouted mung beans, Crunchsters are a first for us. Satisfying and very crunchy (like a corn nut), Crunchsters are conveniently packaged for lunchboxes, backpacks or on-the-go. They are also free from the top 12 allergens and contain 7g protein and 5 g fiber. I’ve gotten hooked on them myself!
free2b Foods Mini Cups and More
If you have a picky eater, or if certain foods are off-limits, you’ll welcome free2b Foods delectable treats, which made without the most common allergens. Sunflower Butter Cups and Mini Sun Cups make excellent lunchbox snacks, with no worries about artificial flavors, colors, sweeteners, preservatives or hydrogenated oils. My favorite is the Dark Chocolate Mint Cup. This entire snack line is non-GMO and certified vegan, Kosher Pareve and Fair Trade.
Solar-Powered Rovers
Learn about how solar cells work and about the energy from the sun. With the Solar-Powered Rovers Kit from Thames & Cosmos, you can construct five motorized models. Build three types of solar cars, a solar fan, and a solar robot model. Conduct science experiments with each model to learn about gear ratios, solar cells, and more.
This kit is perfect as an after-school learning activity, or as a supplement to your physical science curriculum. Your child can experiment with solar cells, test gear ratios and learn all about locomotion. Recommended for ages 8 and up, Solar Powered Rovers are quick to build and the open design makes it easy to see the moving parts and how everything works together.
Wiley Wallaby Organic Bites
If you or your child love licorice, you’re bound to be a fan of organic Wiley Wallaby Organic Bites. This soft and chewy organic licorice satisfies the craving for a sweet treat, but without high fructose corn syrup, artificial colors or flavors.
You can choose from among Mixed Berry, Tropical, Strawberry and Black Licorice.
AMP Kids Puzzle and Board Books
For banishing after-school boredom and stimulating the brain, Big Book of Mazes and Big Book of Brain Games fill the bill. For $8.99 you get 144 pages of puzzles and activities for hours of diversion. Independent readers in grades 3 and up can work through the usual favorites like crosswords, sodoku and scrambles, plus new and unusual puzzles like Egg Timers (where you add or subtract a letter each time to fill in the clues) and Splitz. I’ve had a lot of fun with these books myself!
The Snoopy board book collection includes Numbers, Colors, Shapes and Words, and is ideal for the preschool child.
Stick-O City 16-Piece Set
From our friends at Magformers comes the Stick-O set, designed to encourage toddlers to explore tactile learning through hands-on magnetic play. Because the magnets rotate, and go together so easily, little ones won’t get frustrated as they build.
The curved 3D shapes contain a magnet pocket, enabling the components to slide into place easily. And Stick-O magnets are completely encased inside BPA-free, ABS plastic to ensure safety. With this 16-piece city set, children can construct a car, racer, airplane and more. Develop color and shape recognition, fine motor skills and problem-solving abilities. Recommended for ages 36 months and up and retails for under $25.
Starling Skincare Hand Sanitizer
Constant hand sanitizing can dry the skin, so this fall try Starling Skincare’s all-natural, moisturizing formulas made with plant-based ingredients. Starling Skincare’s hand sanitizers are effective against the most common germs and the quick-drying formula is hypoallergenic and allergen-free, with no rinsing required. It’s cruelty and toxin free and meets all CDC recommendations. We gave the Orange Punch and Lavender Fresh varieties a whirl and the essential oils are heavenly!
Tuck in their backpack, or keep on hand for home use.
Starling Skincare Deodorant
Starling’s allergen-free and chemical-free children’s deodorant is perfect for outdoor play and school sports. Provides long-lasting performance for tweens and teens and contains no aluminum, sulfates, phthalates or perfumes. Formulated with tapioca starch, coconut oil and beeswax, each is lightly scented with essential oils. Choose from Force Field, Birthday Cake and Birthday Cake Sensitive.
Starling’s products are:
- Allergen and cruelty free
- Small-batch produced
- Made for sensitive skin
Subscribe to Starling’s newsletter and get 20% off your first purchase!
Skip Hop Toddler Backpack
Looking for the perfect preschool to Kindergarten backpack? I highly recommend the sturdy, adorable animal packs from Skip Hop. The roomy interior features a wipe-clean surface and lots of pockets. Sturdy and comfortable to carry, your toddler will love toting his school stuff around in this cute bag. You can choose from 14 different creatures and the price tag is just around $20.00!
The Basic Backpack by Veegul
At $14.99 the price is right, and you’ll get a bag that lasts the school year through, and beyond. Made of ultralight, durable 600D polyester, the Veegul bag features two bottle pockets, two front zipper pockets, and an inner laptop pouch (fits up to a 15.6 inch screen). The airflow mesh padded strap ensures a comfortable carry. Ideal for ages 7 and up.
One Yellow Sun Board Book
Get your preschooler ready for shapes and colors with award-winning artist Michael Arndt’s vibrant board book entitled One Yellow Sun. Using elegant die-cut shapes and bold layouts, One Yellow Sun teaches basic color and number concepts in a tactile and visual fashion that’s extremely appealing. And there’s a surprise activity at the end. 32 pages, published by Andrews McNeel.
And that’s it for my round-up! See anything here you’d like to try for back-to-school season?
We received product samples from sponsors linked in this post in exchange for an honest review.