As the summer winds down, the excitement for a new school year begins to build. With advancements in technology, students have more tools than ever to enhance their learning experiences. More and more, the back to school season is less about clothes and pencils, and more about the latest tech to make sure our little ones have a leg up on the school year. One innovative tool that’s gaining popularity is the 3D pen. Perfect for sparking creativity and enhancing STEM learning, 3D pens are becoming an essential part of back-to-school tech supplies.
In addition to a 3D pen, here’s a comprehensive list of back-to-school tech essentials that will set your child up for success in the upcoming school year.
A kids smart watch is more than just a cool accessory. It can help parents keep track of their child’s location, set reminders for homework or activities, and even facilitate communication. Features like GPS tracking, step counting, and emergency calling make these watches a valuable tool for both parents and kids.
In today’s digital age, having a reliable device is almost as important as textbooks. Whether it’s for research, assignments, or staying in touch with teachers, a laptop or tablet can greatly enhance your child’s learning experience. Popular choices include the Apple iPad, Microsoft Surface Go, and Chromebooks. Of course, gaming computers are also an option if the budget allows, which will allow kids to express their gamer side.
Remember when you were in school and there was nowhere to charge your phone? That’s right, you don’t, because you didn’t have one, and if you did, the battery lasted weeks. Ensure your child’s modern devices never run out of battery with a portable charger. Brands like Anker and RAVPower offer compact, powerful options that can keep tablets, laptops, and other tech gadgets charged throughout the school day.
Perfect for online classes or listening to educational content, wireless earbuds or headphones can provide high-quality sound and noise cancellation. Brands like Apple AirPods and JBL offer great options that are both comfortable and durable. There was a time when kids were not allowed to wear headphones during class, but in modern times, many classroom reading times allow kids to listen to their music as they study. I was shocked to find out how common this was.
For extra storage and backups, external hard drives are a great investment. Seagate and Western Digital offer reliable options that can store large amounts of data, ensuring that important projects and documents are always safe. When my oldest kid went off to college, the one thing I made sure she had was an external hard drive. Her computer had very low storage, and it’s much easier to plug in an external drive than to buy a whole new computer just to get a little more space in the hard drive.
A 3D pen is an innovative tool that allows kids to bring their ideas to life. Whether they’re working on school projects, creating art, or exploring STEM concepts, a 3D pen can provide endless possibilities for creativity and learning. The 3D pens for kids offer a variety of options suitable for different age groups and skill levels. 3D pens are great for teaching hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, practicing the arts, and architecture. Imagine the great architects of the past building with a pen that extrudes plastic to build their masterpieces. The future is truly bright for our children.
Enhance your child’s learning with educational apps and software. Programs like Khan Academy, Duolingo, and Prodigy offer interactive learning experiences that can supplement classroom education and make learning fun. Make sure your children are taking advantage of the modern world and all it has to offer. Many parents like to abstain from modernity and implement strict screentime on kids, but with the right apps, being on the phone, tablet or computer can be valuable learning time.
Smart notebooks allow students to take handwritten notes and instantly digitize them. Brands like Rocketbook and Moleskine offer notebooks that sync with cloud services, making it easy to organize and share notes. Some even have handwriting recognition software so you can no longer make the excuse that you do not recognize your own writing. Legibility is a thing of the past!
Introduce your child to the world of coding with interactive coding kits. Brands like Kano and LEGO offer kits that teach coding through fun, hands-on activities, helping kids develop essential STEM skills. With the proliferation of AI services and software, coding is easier than ever. Chat GPT and other large language models can help you learn coding and understand it easier than ever.
Virtual Reality (VR) headsets can provide immersive learning experiences. With educational VR apps, students can explore historical sites, dive into the ocean, or even travel to space, all from the comfort of their homes or classrooms. Oculus and Google Cardboard are popular options for educational VR experiences. Even Apple has entered the VR space recently with its own offerings, but those are a bit on the pricey side. VR is still a bit of a niche tool, but great for those who have it available to them.
Preparing for the new school year involves more than just buying notebooks and pencils. With the right tech tools, students can enhance their learning, stay organized, and explore new creative possibilities. From a kids smart watch to a 3D pen, each item on this list can play a crucial role in supporting your child’s academic and personal growth.
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