Essential Items for Helping Your Child Succeed During Back to School at Home

Having children learn from home when they’re used to learning in a structured classroom setting has been overwhelming for many parents since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. The summer months may be a welcome break from online learning, but it certainly hasn’t helped parents who are working from home and still trying to keep their kids engaged. 


As such, some parents might actually be looking forward to school starting again, even if it is from home, as the summer break has allowed school administrators and staff a chance to devise homeschooling plans with a little more structure than they did when the emergency stay-at-home orders were placed. Needless to say, back-to-school shopping will be a lot different this year, as parents will be focused more on electronics and productivity tools than traditional classroom items like glue sticks, folders and boxes of Kleenex. 

 

With the uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus and how long it will last, it is important to be prepared for the 2020-2021 school year. Here are some essential items to consider to help your child succeed when going “back to school” at home.


Back to School from Home Essential Items






 

Computer or laptop

Unless your school district supplies your child with a laptop, they’ll need a computer or laptop for online learning. This is obviously a big investment, so value is key here. If you want to save lots of money on a new computer or laptop, check out either Dell Refurbished or Dell Outlet. The difference between the two is that Dell Refurbished sells slightly older, used, off-lease computers; while Dell Outlet sells newer, latest-generation devices. Regardless, you can get a fully inspected, refurbished product from each at a far lower price than you would brand-new. For example, you can get a Dell Outlet Inspiron 7000 from the Dell Outlet for $589. From Dell Refurbished, you can a laptop like a Dell Latitude 12 7000 for $359. 


Here are the latest Dell Refurbished coupons available for you to save:

$300 Off
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If you're shopping at Dell Outlet, try one of these Dell Outlet coupon codes:

Hot Deal
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Expires Apr 1

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Hot Deal
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Expires Apr 1

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Screen protection for tablets

Our mobile devices are getting more use these days than ever before. That means they’re more susceptible to breakage and germs, and your child is more susceptible to high-energy visible (HEV) blue light. InvisibleShield from ZAGG tablet protectors not only protect your screen but also filter out harmful blue light, saving your child from eye strain. Don’t forget disinfecting wipes for occasionally cleaning the screen, especially if multiple children will be sharing the tablet. InvisibleShield tablet protectors fit the 2019 10.2-inch iPad, iPad mini 5/4, iPad Air 2/1 and several iPad Pro models. Here are two of the latest ZAGG discount codes you can use to save on this purchase:

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Verified
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Tablet keyboard

ZAGG tablet keyboards to use with your tablet might be a more convenient, versatile and affordable option than a new laptop. It will depend upon the age of your child and what they’ll be using it for but, overall, they’re great for the on-the-go family. For example, if you have an 11-inch iPad Pro, you can get a Slim Book Go Keyboard and Case for only $99. See the coupons above under "Screen protection for tablets" for ways to save on a ZAGG keyboard.





Headphones

With you working and your kids holding virtual lessons with their teachers, there can be a lot of noise in the house at one time during a typical “school day” at home. Headphones are vital if you’re all within an earshot of each other. Amazon has a wide variety of computer headphones that comfortably fit over the ear and are lightweight for kids.  


Computer mouse

Kids and even adults can struggle with using the touchpad on a laptop, so it might be time to invest in a mouse if you don’t already have one. Logitech’s Doodle Collection offers super cute design options for kids and works with Windows®, Mac®, Chrome OS™ and Linux® devices. Before ordering, use one of these Logitech discount codes to save:

Verified
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Ongoing Offer

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Hot Deal
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Proper lighting

Sunlight will be waning during the first few months of school, so you can’t rely on it to light your child’s work environment for long after school starts. Even a little clip lamp can work and costs as little as $13. Alternatively, you can choose a larger model like this TaoTronics LED Lamp with charging ports, dimmable features and different brightness levels for $39.99. 



Whiteboard

In the absence of a teacher in the room, you may find yourself needing to explain things to your children yourself. Or they may need a space to jot their thoughts down quickly as they work on math problems or spelling. Whiteboards take the place of messy chalkboards and are great for teaching kids. You can find a large one to hang on the wall, or smaller individual-sized whiteboards for small hands to practice spelling and math. You can get a six-pack of small whiteboards for $15.99 from Amazon, or a larger one like this 24x36-inch whiteboard for $34.90.


Printer and paper from Quill.com

Your child’s school may send home some pre-printed worksheets and assignments for your child, but there might be times when you need to print things at home, especially if you want to keep a project your child worked hard on. If you don’t have a printer but are considering one, Quill.com is a great resource. This Canon Wireless Color Printer is network-ready and only costs $129.99. Quill.com also has a variety of other printers and printer paper, and offers free shipping on orders over $45. Here are two Quill promo codes you can use today to save:

Hot Deal
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Ongoing Offer

No Promo Code Needed. Click "Get Offer" To Activate This Deal. Exclusions May Apply
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Smartphone sanitizer

Taking your phone to the grocery store and on any errands you may run on a given day means exposing it to germs over and over again. Considering how often we touch our phones on any particular day, it’s important to keep it as clean as you can to avoid spreading germs. Although it is more likely something you’d buy for yourself or for older kids with smartphones, a Casetify UV sanitizer can disinfect germs on your smartphone within three minutes. Besides sanitizing germs and avoiding bringing them into your home, it gives you ultimate peace of mind that you’re doing whatever you can to keep your home germ-free and your kids healthy during these uncertain times. You can save on this item with a Casetify coupon like these:

Verified
10% Off
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Ongoing Offer

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10% Off Sitewide
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Verified
$5 Off
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$5 Off Any Order
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Miscellaneous electronics and office supplies

With the whole family learning and working from home, you might find yourself needing certain supplies that you never needed before. AliExpress offers practically anything you could need and at bargain prices, whether you find yourself needing a new stylus, iPad case, charging cable, laminating machine, mobile storage devices and more. And you won’t have to worry about breaking the bank either. You can access deeper savings by using an AliExpress promo code with your order:

$25 Off
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Expires Dec 31

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$12 Off
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Expires Dec 31

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Kid-friendly timer

If you have kids, you’ve likely heard, “How much longer?” from them every time they’re asked to do something unenjoyable. For younger kids, it is difficult to truly understand how much longer a given number of minutes will be. When doing schoolwork, having a visual representation of time can be a huge help for them. The Original Time Timer is a great tool because it is easy to set and shows the remaining about of time in red, so your child can watch the minutes pass when they’re asked to work on a task for a specific amount of time. Seeing that there is an end in-sight can really help them buckle down and finish the task at hand. 


Chair that lets kids be kids

Some kids really struggle to stay seated for long periods of time. Schools are on to this and have started adding stability balls to their classrooms for kids to sit on when they have problems sitting still. This lets them bounce a bit and cures their desire to move their legs. If this sounds familiar, you might want to invest in a chair that your child will actually enjoy sitting on for long periods of time. Something like this Zenergy Swivel Ball Chair from Quill.com not only looks cool, but allows them to bounce and swivel all day long. See the above section "Printer and paper" for coupons that can be used at Quill.com.