It's Back to School time! At Fun Stuff Toys, this is our 39th year going back to school (we're really dedicated students!) so here are some of our favorite tips to help parents and kids ease into the new school year.
For First-time Students
Kids who are heading off to school for the first time will face an understandable mix of emotions (excitement, nervousness, uncertainty) and will likely have a ton of questions. Help them get ready for school with books that show them what school will be like and ease their concerns. Here are some of our favorites:
The Night Before Preschool, by Natasha Wing
The Night Before Kindergarten by Natasha Wing
The 12 Days of Preschool by Jenna Lettice
All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold
Highlights Best Kids' School Jokes Ever
For Kids who like to Fidget
Sitting at a desk after a summer of outside play or unstructured free time can be challenging for kids. New fidget toys that are quiet and classroom-friendly can help kids focus in school. Here are some of our top picks:
Wigglitz: These tiny, popular fidgets are the perfect back-to-school companions. Available in an endless variety of characters and colors, Wigglitz are sold individually or by the bag (15 of your choice in-store; 15 randomly assorted online).
NeeDoh Nice Cube: NeeDoh offers a wide variety of squeezable shapes that provide stress-reducing sensory play for kids of all ages. Cool and semi-transparent, the Nice Cube comes in several squishable colors.
Ring Pop Squishy: This fun, playful twist on the classic candy slips onto kids fingers and provides a satisfying squish anytime! Available in three different colors.
Grounding Stone: Lifelines Grounding Stones fit in your palm and help kids fidget and de-stress anywhere. Essential oils can also be added to enhance the sensory experience.
For Kids who like Sensory Stuff
Studies have shown that incorporating stimulating smells into study time can both reduce stress and improve cognitive performance, making it easier to retain and recall information. Here are a few sensational new school supplies to try this year:
Pen Diffuser: Lifelines Pen Diffusers come in a wide variety of scents that can be diffused as you write. Our favorites include Citrus Grove and Crisp Mountain Air along with teen-friendly scents like Chocolate Chip Cookie and Strawberry Milkshake.
Lava Pens: Lifelines Lava Pens offer both scented ink and soothing, flowing lava bubbles to help encourage a calm classroom environment.
Coffee Smens: These scented pens from Scentco feature gourmet coffee scents to waken up the senses and make note-taking more fun.
For Kids who are motivated by Fun School Supplies
Why get the same old boring school supplies? Here are some of our top picks on ways to keep life (at school) fun this school year:
Mighty Monster Pens: These adorable pens make writing and doodling monstrously entertaining. Sold individually, you can pick your favorite or adopt them all.
Magic Pencil: The amazing Magic Pencil never needs sharpening! The compressed graphite tip equals 100 regular pencils and brings a new level of cool to your pencil case!
Unlimited Varsity Bag: Keep all of your school supplies in a popular Mavi Varsity bag and your school experience will defy gravity!
Critters Pencil Case: This super cute pencil case from Hot Focus features two compartments, a pop out pencil sharpener and a calculator!
For Kids with Endless Energy
After spending the day sitting in a classroom, when they come home from school, kids need to get up and move. Here are some of our awesome active toys for kids with energy to burn:
Junior Glow Rainbow Stomp Rockets: A favorite for kids visiting our store, this set features 8 rainbow rockets for kids to send soaring with just a stomp of their foot.
Micro Kickboard Scooters: Available in two sizes (Mini and Maxi), these super stable scooters can grow with kids from 2 to teen and feature LED wheels.
Footzy Ball: Featured in our Summer Catalog, Footzy Ball was a staff favorite. Kids can play indoors or outdoors, kicking Footzy Ball in this kickball meets hacky sack toy that promotes balance, coordination and physical mobility.
Glow Basketball Court Set: Give your basketball court a glow up for the early darkness of fall nights! This set comes with a Glow in the Dark Basketball and waterproof LED basketball hoop lights.
Whatever your learning style, we hope some of these suggestions can help make the beginning of the school year a bit easier. Have a great year to all of our Fun Stuff families!