Back To School - a look at lines for

Back in the old school

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Back to school this year could be quite the thing! Barring any resurgence of Covid-19, this could be the first proper back to school the UK has seen for some time. So could it be a money spinner for toy retailers?

Over the past year, as schools have been open and shut more times than a fridge door during lockdown, parents have probably tried to avoid buying anything new. After all, school shoes and uniforms have barely been worn and then grown out of before school opened again.

So, with the vaccination programme steaming ahead, it would be reasonable to expect that when the kids go back for the autumn term in September, parents may be more likely to buy new pencil cases, lunch boxes and bags, in the hope that schools will remain open for a full term - and hopefully a year!

We also need to remember that toy shops can be the focus for after-school treats. So expect parents to come in for small purchases such as pocket money toys or for gifts for schoolfriends’ birthday parties.

Leon Jarmolowicz, EMEA brand director of Crayola, says the brand offers everything needed to fill school pencil cases “from pencils, crayons, markers to art supplies like

Toy shops can be the focus for “

after-school treats, so expect parents to come in for pocket money toys or gifts for birthday parties

paints and chalks. Quality and range of colour is a key Crayola trait. Parents can send their kids back to school knowing their children have the best utensils for learning and kids can explore creativity with hundreds of colours”.

Thames & Kosmos expects back to school to renew interest in STEM kits.

“Our Kids First range introduces preschoolers to the fascinating world of STEM, our FEAK series is an affordable Fun Science kits, our Pepper Mint range was recognised recently in The Independent’s top 10 Best STEM toys and our newly bolstered Robotics range features a sell-out Tightrope Walking Gyrobot,’’ says Julia Loeser, science kit sales, marketing & PR manager. What is important, she adds, is fun: “In June, the Massive Erupting Volcano will hit UK shores. This kit simulates the earthThe kids being in school is a big deal for us because we are near three primary schools, so we do get a stampede at 3.45pm on Fridays for the post-school treat. And that’s when the LEGO minifigures and Pokémon cards fly out.

Amanda Alexander, Giddy Goat Toys, Didsbury, Manchester

We have a fabulous range of stationery from Djeco - the Lovely Paper collection of pens, notebooks and so on - that children and parents love because the designs are so beautiful.

Simon Russell Crafts4Kids, The Engine Yard at Belvoir Castle

In our back to school range, backpacks, lunch boxes and footballs are always our best sellers.

Laura Clare & Samantha Clare, Toys Plus, Blackpool and Cleveleys, Lancashire

We always have a range of educational games like those from Orchard Toys and Smart Games but no stationery or school bags. We stock playground toys such as Moon Balls, Tech Decks and Pokémon cards.

Julia Wingate,The Trading Post, Devon

shattering power of a volcano in your own home!’’

As diversity and inclusion becomes a hot topic, Crayola has made some important developments, says Leon Jarmolowicz: “The new Crayola Colours of the World range feature. 24 specially formulated colours to represent the skin tones and diversity of people around the world for all races, cultures and ethnicities. Working with a makeup company, Crayola has developed the colours to authentically reflect the full spectrum of human complexions.’’

Creative colouring

VIVID TOYS

01483 449944 | vividtoysandgames.co.uk

Kids can now truly represent themselves and others in their creativity with the new Crayola Colours of the World range. Inclusivity for children is a topic that is extremely important to Crayola and, with the Colours of the World range, children can create a more inclusive world and represent themselves and others in their works of art, as well as learn about different cultures and skin tones.

The new packs of crayons, markers and pencils feature 24 specially formulated colours to represent the skin tones and diversity of people around the world of all races, cultures and ethnicities. Working with a leading cosmetics company, Crayola developed the colours to authentically refl ect the full spectrum of human complexions, featuring tones such as rose, golden, almond and everything in-between. Crayola may make virtually every colour under the sun but one of its favourite shades is green! Crayola produces enough solar energy to make 3 billion crayons and 700 million markers annually. By using renewable energy, reducing waste and protecting rainforests, Crayola’s green initiatives are helping to ensure that today’s kids will have a healthy environment for their creative tomorrows.

Over the past decade, Crayola has made more than 10 billion crayons and 7 billion markers - all by the power of the sun - and now kids around the world can say their Crayola crayons and markers are made with 100% sun-harnessed renewable energy. Not only that, but in a continued commitment to the environment, Crayola Coloured Pencils are made with wood from well-managed forests to help preserve resources for the future.

Crayola is committed to making its products responsibly and to spread this message, packs of Crayola coloured pencils, markers and crayons in the UK in 2021 will feature key messages about Crayola’s sustainability effort.

Stationery with style

CRAFT BUDDY

0203 417 6565 | www.craftbuddyltd.co.uk

Craft Buddy offers a diverse range of Crystal Art embellished Notebooks designed to appeal to children of all ages. The company is introducing four new 26cm x 18cm Notebooks into its Disney licensed Crystal Art collection with front cover designs based around Disney characters and movie scenes including the Pride Rock scene from The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Classic Minnie and Moana.

Older children may fi nd the artwork of celebrated designer Anne Stokes appealing, with a range of Crystal Art Notebooks featuring her striking designs and lifelike portrayals of fantasy subjects.

Bridging the stationery and arts & crafts markets, the award-winning Notebooks are suitable for everyday use. They feature 50 lined pages and are available in a variety of front cover artwork options. The technique used to produce sparkling Crystal Art is similar to paint-by-numbers, with each design featuring a numbered, adhesive template. Using the magic pick up pen (included), you simply lift up the coloured crystals and place them on the corresponding dots. Affi xing instantly, the result is a piece of art that can be kept or gifted to loved ones.

Mini backpacks with mega surprises

MOOKIE TOYS

01525 722769 | www.mookie.co.uk

MicroPacks have been loved by children since their launch. Micropacks are super cute mini backpacks fi lled with mini collectable stationery surprises. There are eight fun and colourful backpack designs to choose from and each contains six pieces of mini stationery, from mini stickers and highlighters to notepads and erasers. With more than 100 different mini stationery pieces to collect and use, you’ll never know what’s inside until it’s yours! Using the backpack clip, you can attach your Micropack to your bag, so you can take it with you wherever you go.

Fun construction play

BASIC FUN!

0118 925 3270 | www.BasicFun.com

For a back to school range that supports learning at all stages of development, there’s K’NEX from Basic Fun! The past year has seen sales of this construction brand surge, with families using K’NEX to entertain and supplement homeschooling efforts amid lockdown restrictions. And with children now back at school, Basic Fun! is continuing to drive home how families and schools can use K’NEX projects to underpin classroom-based learning. To help support teachers and promote the application of K’NEX to STEAM learning in schools, Basic Fun! recently pledged £10,000 worth of K’NEX education packs with lesson plans.

Benefiting from some exciting developments for the second half, K’NEX has a project for all ages and interests. A great entry point to the brand is the Kid K’NEX multibuild character sets. Their soft, chunky, flexible pieces are ideal for kids aged three-plus.

Flair readies kids for back to school!

FLAIR

0208 643 0320 | sales@flairplc.co.uk

Be it a backpack or pencil case essentials, Flair has kids covered as they head back to school.

A must-have for any Diana fan is a backpack that looks just like the one Diana wears in her hit animated YouTube series. The Flair Just Play Love, Diana Adventure Set is hard to miss in shades of pink and gold and features a heart-shaped window with floating glitter on the front - just like Diana’s! It comes filled with everything required for a Love, Diana adventure - at home or in the playground.

Ticking the box for pencil case essentials is the heritage brand Spirograph. There’s a host of sets to pick from, including the popular 75-plus piece Original Spirograph Super Design Set, and this year’s launch of the Original Spirograph Retro Duluxe Set.

Where collectables meet craft, there’s Sneak’Artz. This fun brand lets kids customise their own miniature shoe designs. Each pack contains a miniature sneaker, washable pens, stickers and more, plus an attachable key chain. Hot news for A/W is the new wave of Sneak’Artz which comes with hydrographic papers - an all-new processing technique that allows kids to transfer graphics to their Sneak’Artz shoes.

Playground pleaser

CHARACTER OPTIONS

sales@charactergroup.plc.uk | www.character-online.com

With kids back at school and the playground beckoning for a new and exciting challenge, Character Options presents Totem Infernal Power. Launched in the spring with TV support, this fast and furious game invites kids to ‘experience spinning tops like never before’.

Suitable for both primary and secondary school students, Totem Infernal Power challenges players to build the Totem Tower, stacking tops in size order. The fun begins when the first top is launched, and it begins to spin. Then, the race is on to build the Totem Tower, stacking as many of the spinners as possible - all while keeping the Totem spinning. Each piece has a specific shape and features different coloured LEDs, which light up as soon as you place them on top of one another. The aim of the game is to stack all five pieces to create a multi-coloured Totem. But how long will kids be able to keep their Totem spinning?