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Jared Thomas shows off his trading cards while Maloreigh Todd relaxes with a book in her saucer seat. |
by Micheil O'Rourke-Cole
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heetah Girls, Bratz, Auburn and Alabama, High
School Musical, HSM2, and out this month,
HSM:The Senior Year—oh, and surely the
charmed and adventurous Harry Potter has graced the
homework hour before dinner, instead of the
equations that must be solved before the ‘morrow. Kids do gravitate toward
their interests and love to wear
their favorite characters and
teams on their clothes, shoes,
notebooks and backpacks.
School shopping has begun. Clothing, supplies and necessities burst in on the family budget for July and August while merchants prepare sales, and governments sign off on sales tax breaks during the last weekend before the buses begin to run.
Beyond the decimals, dollar signs and “Did you finish?” directives, there is a sort of spiritual path to the beginning of the school year. It is exciting. The first day is feared and anxiously awaited, often by both the parents and the child, regardless of the academic level.
It is now that comes the question: What do they really need? And the exasperation: “I can’t believe that we bought, ordered, turned down, returned, signed up or totally fell for that outfit, those shoes, the laptop, a cell phone or the most expensive markers ever packaged by a crayon company.”
“Mom,” said a little girl as she stopped dead in her tracks at a display near the checkout. “Look, it is a Hannah Montana Make Your Own School Gear kit. I need this.”
“Why?” is the reply as Mom turns the package over to view the $15 price tag.
“I need it for school,” said the quickthinking youngster, knowing that phrase is the trigger on mom’s obviously loaded debit card, and the safety is off.
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August brings a bonus for families with school-aged children. From July 31 through Aug. 3, no state sales taxes will be charged in Georgia on back-to-school items, including some clothing, computers and accessories. Courtesy of House Bill 948, Columbus merchants gladly articipate. School begins on August 11 In Alabama, August 1 at 12:01 a.m. begins the first day of the three-day state sales tax break for school supplies, with several cities also throwing in two, three or four cents worth on every dollar for 72 hours. Generally, local city councils and county commissions in Alabama make the decision to remove local taxes as well as participate in the state sales tax holiday in June. Check www.ador.state.us for more information on items and participating areas. School begins in Alabama on August 6. |
Nothing tugs at the heart strings of the parent, whose primary purpose is to address absolutely the educational needs of his or her potential Nobel Prize winner, like the words: “It is for school.”
“Kids still like Webkins,” said Maloriegh Todd, who is happy to say she will be 8 years old in December. “And they like the Penguin Club, too.”
She can guide anybody through the maze of what is still popular among the elementary set.
“I have one of these,” she said, moving toward the practical lap desk on display at Lipstick and Lizards, a children’s boutique at The Shoppes at Bradley Park in Columbus. “I use it to read my books.”
The shop is chock-full of anything a boy or girl could want or need. From nurseries to dorm rooms, décor, utility and comfort are sprinkled with designer magic. The perfect book-cracking conditions can be easily created—even the “Lipsticks” are ballpoint pens, “Lollipops” are assignment notebooks and the matching study accessories are to die for.
Not every student has the same “conditions” that make paying those homework dues a little easier, the experts say, but after a day’s worth of learning, the lessons are still pretty fresh that evening. A “study space” is a pre-requisite to a successful semester. Comfort is important, educators advise, so it is good to “hug” a student with a spot that encourages focus and, yet, is also ergonomically correct.
“I love this chair,” said Maloreigh, as she sits with positive posture and gently touches the soft material. Her movements on the saucer-seat are easy and natural. “I would like to get this for my room.”
Lipstick and Lizards has hundreds of vendors, said Gina Todd, owner and Maloreigh’s mom, with several services for the busy family during the coming school year. Some of the more popular items are also some of the most sensible and useful things from the “first day to perfect all-year attendance.” Personalizing—everything—has become the ultimate “cool” for home and for school.
“I have never seen anything like it,” Gina said. “Monogramming has really been what everyone wants, and we have the ability to personalize. We really try to cater to our clients. We offer free gift wrapping, delivery and a wish list.”
The wish list is a life saver if a birthday or special event happens to mark the calendar and gifts are in order. The first days of school can also be a family celebration. If grandma and grandpa want to shop a little, Lipstick and Lizards keeps a registry that includes those things that have been purchased as well as those “I need it for school” items that have been spotted while other essentials are checked off the list.
Magnetic note boards have been very popular, said Gina. A neat little invention, the board is decorative and keeps a kid’s bulletins and prized “family portraits” from art class on easy display. No tacks, no tape and no searching for the artifacts needed to leave the usual corkboard, chalkboard or dry-eraser memo.
Of course, the first thing on the list of items to buy for the beginning of the new school year is the outfit, and there is no better place to shop than Smilez and Giggles in Smiths Station for the finest threads for the pre-kindergarten through elementary school crowd.
“Hair bows and knee shorts,” said Ruth Hutchinson, who proudly carries Bailey Boys, Peaches ‘n Cream, Rosalina and Feltman Brothers, “that’s what is popular this year.”
Knee shorts hit just above the knee, and coupled with a light, soft knit top, the outfit is the best combination for first day pictures, purpose and comfort. The styles vary, but from toddlers to teenagers the new thing for the season is today’s answer to Bermuda shorts and a slightly briefer version of the peddle-pusher capris of the 1950s and 60s. Hair bows are just the final touch for the new “do” for school.
“It stays warm here through October,” said Hutchinson, as she showed a variety of fabrics, textures and styles for the 2008-2009 school calendar. “Baby cords are used for the colder weather in the fall and early winter.”
As July wanes and August opens the inspirational possibilities for star-studded worksheets and masterpieces from art class, families begin to organize. Before registration and class assignments, it is time to put the “school house” in order. “We get his desk squared away and purge clothes,” said Carla Thomas, mother of three boys. “We go through all the closets and drawers, pack up what he has outgrown and donate—then we get supplies and the haircut.”
Meanwhile, Jared Thomas, age 8, has his mind on baseball, wrestling and fishing with his big brothers. He said he keeps the ripped blue jeans for play clothes and likes the T-shirts with his favorite sports and video game characters. This year he enters grade 4 at Ladonia Elementary in Russell County and will need a new backpack, pens, pencils and, of course, whatever his new teacher requires. The wardrobe: khaki shorts and pants with plenty of pockets, shoes, sneakers and a few new WWE T-shirts. Absolutely, do not forget the Braves ball cap, worn in various directions upon the noggin eager to receive knowledge.
“As long as it is not girl’s stuff,” said the left-fielder for the Dixie Youth League Atlanta Braves. “I like pink as a color, but not for a backpack.”
Right now, he said, his friends are “negotiating allowances.” He would like a cell phone. Each school district in the Valley has specific rules about cell phones in school. It is best to check the student handbook or ask for the policy before the first day.
Last year, said Jared, he did play fall ball, so his sneakers are more sports equipment than a fashion or status statement.
“I hit anything they can throw at me,” he said, smiling widely below the bent, A-frame brim of his year-round headgear. And then he was off in a flash. There was a“Hot Wheels” game on the computer nearby that needed some undivided attention. Focus on the academic track, after all, is still a few thousand electronic laps away before school bus drivers start their engines.
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