The 24-7 Life of School Supplies

The 24-7 Life of School Supplies

(ARA) - Just as work creeps into all aspects of adult life, a kid's school day is no longer just 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. From class to sports practice to hanging out with friends, kids move in a dozen different directions, and so do their school supplies. With today's fast-paced lifestyles, notebooks, binders and school products aren't confined to the classroom, and homework isn't always done sitting at the kitchen table.

"Between school and football practice, it's hard to find a lot of time to do homework at home," says Brennen O'Neill, an eighth-grade student from North Royalton, Ohio. "I usually start my homework on the sidelines before practice starts and look over my notes in the car. That way I don't have so much to do for school when I get home late in the evening."

Stories like Brennen's don't surprise the experts who develop school products. Companies like MeadWestvaco, a leading school supply manufacturer, are responding with innovative tools that meet student needs both during and after school.

"Today's kids are so much on the go that their school supplies have evolved into lifestyle products with multiple functions for different times of the day," says Brian Effer, MeadWestvaco marketing communication manager. "They want a way to organize their notes and homework during the day, but within the same product, they're also looking for on-the-go writing surfaces and places to store their MP3 players."

To successfully meet the needs of this demanding group, Effer says today's school supplies have to offer flexibility and the opportunity to customize organization with fashion and fun mixed in for good measure. The 2007/2008 lineup of Mead and Five Star products combines innovation and ingenuity for some of the coolest new school tools since the electronic pencil sharpener.

For those who like to keep their playlists and their periodic table handy, there is now a user-friendly way for them to co-exist. Under the popular Five Star brand, Mead is introducing Five Star Sound products, the first-ever line of plug-and-play school supplies, from binders to backpacks. Incorporating everything kids need to stay organized by day along with high-quality, lightweight speakers, the tote-able tunes allow users to listen to and share their favorite music before and after school and on the weekends. Kids simply turn on the battery-operated amplifier and plug it into their favorite sound source for music they can take anywhere.

A common complaint among students is that they don't have time to stop at their locker between each class. This need to manage multiple subjects combined with kids' amazingly overcrowded schedules has created a real demand for organizational flexibility. As a result, Five Star products like the Durafiler and the Class2Class, which not only hold everything in one place, but also include features like clip-board writing surfaces, are a perfect solution. And, unique storage solutions like the Five Star Flex Notebinder, which features the storage capacity of a binder with the ability to flip the front cover to lay flat like a notebook, are becoming increasingly popular.

There are also a variety of styles available for girls and boys in designs that appeal to parents and kids alike. Among the popular designs this season will be throwbacks to the '80s, and parents will delight that one of the very products they used during this era is back and better than ever. The most recognized school staple of all time -- the Trapper Keeper binder -- is back, incorporating today's organizational tools with a whole new kind of flair.

With so many options to choose from, before you shop, talk to your kids about how they organize and the different ways they use their supplies. Look for products made with durable materials that can withstand a year's worth of trips from the locker to home and back. You also can receive an extra bang for your buck by having your children register for loyalty rewards programs like Mead Money Madness at www.MeadMoneyMadness.com. The first-ever loyalty program in its category, Mead Money Madness lets your kids earn points and, ultimately, cool prizes for all Mead and Five Star purchases.

No matter which products your kids choose, they are certain to start the year excited and organized while you scratch your head lamenting how there was never anything like this when you went to school.

Courtesy of ARAcontent