Check it out: Kids gotta have gear for school

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Colorful Crayola

Almost as exciting as finding out who your teacher will be is discovering what new coloring utensils Crayola has created for the new school year.

Here’s a peek:

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Courtesy photo

Courtesy photo

No Drip Paint Brush pens ($3.99 for five) — They stroke like a brush and flow like a marker.

Pip-Squeaks Mix ’Ems markers ($3.99 for six count; $9.99 for 16 count) — Creates new color fusions with every click of the marker cap.

True to Life — Comes in twistable crayons ($2.49 for eight); tricolor tips markers ($3.99 for six) and tricolor tipped pencils ($2.99 for eight).

 Gear

Graffeeti, the company that created dry-erasable shoes that encouraged your kids to color on, now has another “Re-Markable” idea for back to school — the Graffeeti backpack. It has a dry-erasable panel that allows kids to write, draw and erase as often as they want. It comes with six color dry erase pens.

Techie teens can keep their electronics charged with the Reactor Solar Backpack ($117) from Eclipse Solar Gear. The pack is equipped with a solar charging module and has multiple pockets designed specifically for a cell phone, PDA, hand-held GPS unit, CD player or MP3 player and a laptop computer.

The Lil’  Vehicles Backpack and Lunchbox Set ($43.50) from Bazoongi Kids is both a backpack and lunchbox. Both are waterproof inside and out and have rubber patches to write your child’s name on. The lunchbox also has a push ’n’ click handle strap that attaches to a carry loop on the backpack.

For moms and dads

Whether you have one kid or a dozen, keeping track of everyone’s schedules and activities can be an organizational nightmare.

Patty Grenda has created  The Family Planner ($19.95), a full-size daily planner starting in August. It offers spacious daily columns and weekly views, as well as a new monthly calendar for long-term planning. Available at www.thefamilyplanner.com.

Eau’ de kid

Boys like body spray — lots of it. But sometimes boys — and girls — just need to smell fresher, which is why California mom Alyce Blackstone came up with her new body spray for kids called KidzMist.

“I wanted a way to ‘Febreze’ my kids safely while they’re playing and on the go,” Blackstone said.

KidzMist is a deodorizing and odor neutralizing body spray that is specifically designed for kids that are too young to be wearing deodorant or traditional, fragrant body sprays. The body spray is hypoallergenic and dermatologist tested. An 8-ounce bottle sells for $12. Available online at www.kidzmist.com.

Survival kits for girls

Chic’z on the Go specializes in survival kits for young female athletes. Each $25 kit is pre-packed with teenage essentials, such as sunscreen, nail files, mirrors and other necessities that girls always need before, during and after sports games. Kits are designed for various sports and can be customized. Check it out at www.chiczonthego.net.

Your school can win

The Rock Your School Sweepstakes is a chance for parents to win 100,000 bonus Box Tops for Education from Kimberly-Clark, plus an exclusive concert featuring Radio Disney star and Hollywood Records artist Jordan Pruitt at their child’s school.

You can enter once a day through Sept. 15 using tear pads at participating retail stores or online at www.RockBacktoSchool.com.

The more than 1,000 prizes to be awarded include bonus Box Tops and Pruitt’s CDs. Winners will be selected around Sept. 22.