Back to school products for students

Any mom or dad will tell you, back to school time can feel a lot like Christmas! That’s because you are constantly spending money. Lifestyle expert Valary Lodato has scoped out the perfect products to alleviate stress, keep your kids safe and follow the latest fashions and trends:

According to the National Retail Federation, a recent back-to-school spending survey finds that the average family with children in grades K-12 will spend $688.62 on their kids!

Add that up and we’re talking about $30.3 billion! We found some long lasting, unique and out-of-the-box back-to-school finds to share with you:

*Safety should always come first and with that in mind, if your child rides his or her bike to school, they should never leave home without their bike helmet!

Here’s one way to seal that deal: make their helmet so cool that they refuse to ride without it….

We all know helmets save lives. Last year, 429 bicyclists were killed not wearing helmets, compared to 70 who were (according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety). But many kids dislike wearing helmets.
Fohawx solve that problem! 

These hip helmet attachments come in three wild styles - wavz, punkrox and dredlox – in colorful combos boys and girls love! For biking, snowboarding and skateboarding, they attach easily and securely onto any sport helmet and they're interchangeable so kids can swap with their friends.

With Fohawx, kids actually WANT to wear their safety helmet! Fohawx are available online at www.fohawx.com and at www.toysrus.com

*Any mom will tell you, if the school doesn’t require uniforms, getting dressed can be a battle! Many girls will change their outfits two or three times in the morning, wasting precious time. That won’t happen if she can be confident with her selection the night before!

That’s why many parents love Girls Looking Cute™, a Valley-based life sized “personal outfit assistant." The Girls Looking Cute™  system allows girls to dress up their own life-sized mini-me the night before, to figure out what looks good and what doesn’t.

The “personal outfit assistant” is made in the USA of sturdy laminated wood and stands 56 inches tall. “She” can  be customized with hair, skin color, and more. See more at: http://girlslookingcute.com/store/

* A school locker says a lot about the child who uses it: are they neat, messy, trendy? That’s why two savvy moms founded an amazing line of locker décor goodies called Luv Ur Locker! Their rockin' locker products are exciting, well-made and long lasting! One of the most popular items is the Rockin' Disco Ball. Sport one of those and some darling, durable and reusable wallpaper, along with a soft locker rug and you’re the talk of the halls. 

Since most schools don’t allow tape, all these fab locker décor finds, from the cell phone bin to the scalloped mirrors… attach magnetically. Freebie alert: This month, every 25th person who likes Luv Ur Locker on Facebook in the US, gets $10 in FREE school locker decor products! PLUS, the company will donate $10 additional FREE Luv Ur Locker products to a charitable cause supporting girls!   www.luvurlocker.com

*Now to the cafeteria, where dining in style can actually happen for eco-conscious families! The Eco-Ditty line features organic cotton reusable snack, sandwich, and lunch bags.

They were created by a Colorado Mom who learned that her little girl was allergic to PVC plastic, so she set out to create something healthy for her little girl and millions of other children with allergies.

Now the company has turned into the go-to place for families who want to help their children stay safe and save the environment. www.ecoditty.com

*Now to the little learners! It’s so important that they get a good nap at preschool – so it pays to buy them a comfy, high quality napper! We love Stephen Joseph Gifts too cute Nap Mats!

These super-soft, machine-washable nap mats have been totally redesigned for 2012.

They have an attached blanket, removable pillow, carries like a backpack and come in themes like Horse, Ladybug, Cupcake, Owl, Turtle and Sports. http://shop.stephenjosephgifts.com/C-347/Nap-Mats.aspx