Budget Dh250 for school accessories, say parents
dubai — It’s been over a month now since school students in the UAE broke up for the summer holidays. But with only a month left till the school doors open again, how are parents preparing for the backto-school rush?
For Helen Farmer, a mother of two, it’s all about planning ahead. While school tuition fees and school uniforms require lots of financial planning prior to the start of the new academic year, she said purchasing other bits and bobs like school backpacks, lunch boxes and pencil cases early, can help soften the blow as the new term looms.
As the founder of ‘The Mothership’ blog (an honest take on parenting in Dubai), Farmer said she gets a lot of questions from parents about how to best prepare their kids for school.
“Many mothers ask me about my best buys or regret buys. For me, school shoes are a vital pick. I like the several stores here adhere to the school rules as it cuts out the rig morale of having to search around for the right stuff. ”
In terms of what parents want, “durability and affordability” are high on parents’ lists.
“Going to the mall with kids can be a hassle, so to have multiple brands in one store is easier for parents. No parent wants to go back to the malls again to replace school
Many mothers ask me about my best buys or regret buys. For me, school shoes are a vital pick.” Helen Farmer, Founder, Mothership blog
backpacks or items, so quality products are a must. For me as a parent, I wouldn’t want to spend any more than Dh250 on items like school bags, lunch boxes, and pencil cases.”
Khushboo Sanjania is another parent blogger (mumzynotebook. wordpress.com), and right now, back-to-school bargains are a big topic of discussion on her blog.
“Parents ask lots of questions, but the main thing they are after is something durable. Kids are always on the go. Keeping their school bags clean, tidy and damage-free isn’t always on the top of their agenda, but for parents it is.”
My biggest concern as a parent is always my child’s schoolbag. It should be light, with thick, adjustable shoulder straps.” Ritu Chaturvedi, blogger, special needs teacher
While parents look for practicality, according to her, children are all about trends.
But trends come second for blogger (fussfree.me.com), mother and special needs teacher, Ritu Chaturvedi. She told Khaleej Times her biggest concern when it comes to buying the right footwear for school is comfort.
“Children wear school shoes for up to eight hours a day so they should match the shape of the child’s foot, support the arch and have a little space left as the foot expands throughout the day. A breathable shoe is essential too.”
In terms of affordability, she said
Generation Z are no longer following this pattern of pink for a girl and blue for a boy, so mixed colours are a big hit.” Rula Zaidan, representative, Lifestyle
she would spend upwards of Dh500 on good school shoes and uniforms, but for school accessories like backpacks, a budget of between Dh200-250 will suffice.
“My biggest concern as a parent is always my child’s schoolbag. It should be light, with thick, adjustable shoulder straps. Water bottles are also essential in keeping children hydrated, but water isn’t always the preferable drink for children so a quirky water bottle may entice them. I always look for BPA free bottles too, and most stores provide this option in their back-toschool product line.”
kelly@khaleejtimes.com
This year we have moved away from lace ups. Parent focus groups have taught us that children prefer strap ups.” Anoop Boparai, representative, Shoe Mart