Back To School Trends for 2012

With starting in just three short weeks, students and parents are hitting the stores looking for the perfect back to school supplies.

From clothes to backpacks, shoes to lunchboxes, kids everywhere will be wanting their favorite logos or characters to join them as they climb on the bus or head off to start another school year.

Although some local parents admit that their children still run far away from any Back-to-School shopping sections, others tell Patch their kids know exactly what they are looking for whether it be a certain style bag- messenger bags rather than backpacks for some older students, or trendy T-shirts with the funny sayings for others.

Some classic characters including Hello Kitty are still in high demand, but others such as Angry Birds and Monster High will also be popular for the younger kids who are looking for fun, new pencils, erasers, backpacks and folders.

One item many parents say their kids have strong opinions on seems to be what kicks will be covering their feet – from Reeboks to Skechers to many different styles of Journeys.

The newest trend in shoes that parents may be hearing about soon however, are "shwings," according to one Hartland Patch reader. 

"My kids are excited about shwings," reader Chris Mathews wrote on the Hartland Patch Facebook page. "Nothing to do with Wayne's World. Just wings for your shoes. Seems to be a new trend coming off the east coast."

Musical groups including Big Time Rush and One Direction are also popular must-have's of the season for any item, according to some parents, whether it be clothes, bags or other school supplies. 

Some parents, however, know that no matter how much they want to try and help their child prepare for the upcoming year, sometimes just sitting back and saying nothing is the best way to school shop.

"Anything I hate, she likes," Hartland parent Sasha Klavon said.