Over the past few months, I’ve unboxed, connected, set up, and tested over 300 “back to school” gadgets and apps. Through it all, I had one big goal for her. It’s about finding something new that solves a common problem better than what I or my family already have.
Back-to-school spending is expected to reach a record high this year, even as inflation soars and parents feel pressured by soaring prices.
According to a recent survey from Morning Consult, only 36% of parents will be able to safely shop back to school this year. NRF’s annual poll also shows that one-third of families plan to cut back on other spending areas to cover the cost of back-to-school essentials.
What is the top priority for most people? electronics.
But what do we, or our children, really need? And how much do we have to spend to get something that meets those needs without breaking the bank? Here are a few products that met and even exceeded the requirements of my cynical tester, reporter, and mom and earned them an A grade.
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Go the Bleep to Sleep
Sleep is a huge problem in almost every family I know, and it’s often even worse at the start of a new school year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one-third of children between the ages of 4 months and 17 years don’t get enough sleep.
A new study published in the medical journal The Lancet shows that sleep deprivation in children can impede neurocognitive development, which can affect memory, intelligence and well-being, leading to lasting health problems. It shows that there is a gender.
One of the biggest conclusions from all the research currently available is that children (and adults) shouldn’t have devices in their bedrooms. Unless it’s specifically aimed at solving sleep problems.
One gadget that ticks all the boxes in this category is the VTech V-Hush Sleep Training Soother ($60). It’s made for kids as young as 2 years old, but I know a few families who are using it to help older kids get back into their back-to-school sleep habits. It helps create healthier sleep patterns and environments through stories, songs, a glow-in-the-ceiling projector, multi-colored night lights, and Bluetooth speakers. It’s all backed by science and expertise, and we also offer free consultations with WeeSleep consultants.
For older kids, teens, and college students, Morphée ($100) and Hatch Restore ($100) are great options, along with apps like the Calm app (iOS and Android) and Headspace (iOS, Android).
more:Are you scared of Sunday?These apps and devices will help you relax and fall asleep faster
Encourage more STEM
Science education is a great way to encourage curiosity and creativity. Yet research shows that it is often left on the back burner in early childhood education, and many children never quite catch up with their peers in other countries.
The GeoSafari Jr. My First Microscope ($25) is a great choice for this problem. This is a working scientific tool that can open up new worlds to children without overwhelming them. This fully functional microscope comes with 8x magnification, an extra-large eyepiece, a child-sized focusing knob, and bright LEDs to illuminate details for even more discovery. This model is ideal for children from 3 to 6 years old.
For older kids, check out the AmScope Kids Beginner Microscope STEM Kit ($34). Includes a 52-piece set that budding scientists can use right out of the box. The entry-level compound scope has a built-in color wheel and rotating turret, and offers several magnification options from 120x to 1200x close-up.
You might get tired of hearing, “Mom, this is so creepy, you should check it out,” but both scopes are a great introduction to serious STEM research.
My student needs a laptop — please help!
Four-year-olds are already pretty good at using computers, but few parents know where or when to start when it comes to letting them have their own devices.
Many schools around the country lend out Chromebooks for classes, so it shouldn’t be a problem to just use the one you receive. Around the age of 12, children often need to do more work with digital devices. At this time of year, it becomes difficult to share laptops and PCs between parents and siblings at home.
some things to do
Check out student discounts and explore certified refurbished devices from gadget manufacturers.
· Make sure you are competent enough to work on all school projects. Check your processor for power and speed. Must be at least Intel i5, Intel i7, or equivalent, such as Apple M1 Pro. The newer the better.
· It should be light enough to carry around all day in your backpack or cart.
· Battery life should last all day. Please watch for 10 hours.
· The main specifications of the Run list also include:
· Memory/RAM — 4 GB is plenty for younger kids, but the more memory the better, especially as they progress to higher grades and college.
· Storage—The higher the number, the better, but also the more expensive it is. The minimum here is 64 GB, but 128 GB or more is even better.
Things not to do when buying technology
Don’t go for the absolute cheapest option unless you check all the other boxes as well. There are several ways to get great value and quality for really cheap, and that’s through trade-in deals and promo codes. Even if he buys a laptop for less than $100 at a big box store, it probably won’t be enough to last him through the holidays, let alone the entire school year.
We recommend starting your kids with an affordable 2-in-1 device like the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 ($380). It’s one of the best and most versatile small Chromebooks out there, and it’s great value for the money. The 11-inch tablet comes with a removable keyboard, a built-in stand, and a cover for the inevitable drops and spills. It’s portable, perfect for homework, and features stable performance, over 10 hours of battery life, and built-in virus protection.
Similar devices in this sweet spot price range include the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2-360 (priced at $430, which can be reduced to less than $100 with trade-in options). It’s a different budget –
An easy-to-use 2-in-1 with great features like a 360-degree convertible touchscreen display, Full HD webcam, super-fast Wi-Fi, all-day battery life, and built-in security.
Finally, make sure your device has intuitive and easy-to-use parental controls. Both work. Lock down sites you don’t want to visit, including inappropriate content like YouTube, Reddit, violent sites, porn sites, etc. Set time limits and be sure to set in-app spending limits as well.
my child says everyone else has a smartphone
In last week’s column, I wrote about how children interact with cell phones, depending on their age. Just like teaching children how to swim, bike, or drive a car, teaching them how to use technology safely and responsibly starts with baby steps.
In last week’s article, I recommended “training wheels” technologies such as WIFI starter “phones,” smartwatches, and child-safe cell phones. These are better options than handing over your expensive phone and hoping for the best.
get off to a good start
After testing all sorts of gadgets, a screen whose sole purpose is to make you feel good is my new favorite. I liked it so much that I bought it for my daughter who is in her fourth year of college.
The Presence “Inspiration” display ($189) provides better headspace. Featuring a minimalist design, gorgeous artwork, and stunning photography, we harness the science-based power of daily affirmations to provide you with a personalized, carefully curated playlist of inspirational quotes.
If you’ve ever clipped, printed, pinned, shared, or scrolled through motivational quotes, this is a great new way to surround yourself with always-on, visible, and soothing technology. The company says it’s designed to help you make meaningful changes in your life by forming better habits, retraining your thought patterns, increasing focus, and providing daily affirmations. .
You’ll need to connect to the free Presence app and choose from playlists (called “Rays”). Options include “Connecting with Nature,” “Inspirational Movie Lines,” “Meaningful Thoughts,” and “Inspirational Quotes for Kids,” as well as quotes from Jennifer Lawrence and Drake to Oprah. Contains words of wisdom from movie stars and celebrities, from . Albert Einstein.
Speaking of Oprah, I’ve picked almost all of Oprah’s favorite gadgets for the past decade a year or two (or more) before they made the list. I hope this will be one of them!
Wait, there’s more!
There are a few other things I’d like to share with you, but we’ll have to wait until my next Today Show appearance to reveal them. You can read all about it here on August 23rd.
In the meantime, check out our other top picks from the past few years, including portable chargers, Lumos bike helmets, Apple AirTags, and tile trackers. These are still ranked highly. Also, please let us know what affordable gadgets you use.
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