Back-to-school shopping guide for parents

The smell of new school supplies, the sound of unwrapping its plastic packaging, and the sight of newly-labeled materials would make any child excited for school. It would make any parent with a tight budget cringe too.

With the stores swamped with an assortment of school materials, finding the best for your children becomes more and more challenging. To get through back-to-school shopping unscathed, T-Pencil (The Thinker’s Pencil) advices you to scout carefully, keep your eyes open, and follow these simple rules.

Don’t just make a list, make a plan. List down your children’s essentials to avoid buying unnecessary items. Be specific with your list—the type, the quantity, the brand, and even the price, if you can make an estimate. Setting standards prevents you from buying second-rate products.

Including your children in the game plan can be a fun and fulfilling bonding experience; and they can voice their preferences on the color, design and style of the items they need to have. T-Pencils come in different sizes like the Jumbo, which is ideal for kids four years-old and below as their motor skills are not yet fully developed so the big circumference helps give young tots a better grip; the For Kids size, perfect for kids ages four to eight; and the regular size. There’s also a mechanical pencil variant for students and professionals who want a pencil ready to use anytime minus the sharpening.

Bring just enough — and a little extra. Having just the right amount of money prevents you from buying too- expensive items, or things not on your list. However, it also pays to be armed just in case there’s bargain that’s hard to pass up.

Select safe items for your kids. Keep in mind to get hold of products that not only offer value for your money, but also are safe for your kids to use. The T-Pencil, for one, is a must-have for children. Its safety standards (it’s made of DoH approved non-toxic raw materials) and high quality for a good price makes it every parent’s choice. It’s also eco-friendly being made of cedarwood that comes from “managed forests” and also proudly Filipino made, being the only pencil manufactured in the country.

Not only does the T-Pencil have a variety of kinds to choose from including different shapes – hexaround which has no sharp corners, round, and triangular (which the left-handed would appreciate due to ease of use), it also has a T-Pencil for Kids with Safety Sharpener, the only sharpener in the market made from cast zinc alloy and stainless steel blades with two holes that can sharpen both jumbo and regular pencils.

Don’t shop until you drop. Have a hearty breakfast for energy, and head out first thing in the morning to avoid the mad crowds and the long lines. Starting early also gives you time to peruse items further before purchasing them. Read the labels, compare prices, and look for quality pieces that will last your children throughout the school year.

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Source: Manila Bulletin

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