August 16 2013 By Priyanka Boghani
Are you bored to bits with the barrage of bog-standard Back to School guides in your inbox? Yep, us too. Here at Localiiz, we know that excelling at school is about way more than being stocked up on stationary and sensible shoes - although your kids will certainly struggle without either. On that note, here’s our comprehensive guide to everything you need for back to school
and beyond, from classroom-friendly threads to top tutors, language lessons and even overseas study programmes. So get your little scholars quick off the mark to a good start, and see them continue to conquer throughout the years ahead.
Cool Clothes and Sensible Shoes
For all those busy working parents who barely have time to shop outside the supermarkets,
BaoBae.com offers the perfect solution for kids’ clothes and accessories. This online shopping service stocks everything from smart shirts for serious little scholars to edgier tees for the artsy types that want to stand out from the crowd. So avoid those judging looks from the Tiger Mums at the school gates and don’t let your little ones turn up looking “so last year!”
For pink ribbons, fine lacing and all things sugar and spice, visit
Ankionna, another online oasis of
children’s fashion. Their cute and elegant hair accessorises will keep that grow-out fringe from the eyes of hard working glam girls, while the preppy golf garb will see any son excel in the style department.
And off course your children will struggle to make solid footprints on the world if they don’t have the right support, literally. Call on
apple & pie specialists in European school-perfect shoes that seamlessly blend comfort and style.
Stationary and Supplies
There’s nothing like strolling into school armed with a solid supply of stationary. Equipped for any occasion, new school starters will find comfort in a colourful set of pens and pencils and a nicely stuffed pencil case. Personalised pinch-proof stationary sets, art and activity cases for the creative, and fun backpacks and travel bags can all be found at
Made for Tots.
For the budding bookworms out there,
Bookazine on Chater Road, Central, is a treasure chest of words and wisdom. With their thorough range of language books, the shop also acts as a great resource for kids who need to brush up on their English or Chinese when starting at a new school.
If you don’t mind a few dog ears and split spines, save yourself a few dollars at online second-hand bookstore
Readbooks.hk. Their eclectic range of fact and fiction genres, dictionaries and textbooks will expose your kids to the wonderful world of words. Readbooks.hk also boasts greeting cards, free shipping to Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, and worthy recycled packaging.
Swat Up
If you’re keen to see your kids excel this year, make yourself really unpopular by signing them up for some extra
tutoring. A few additional lessons will complement their studies and give them that extra boost needed to compete within the super clever crowd.
Cambridge Tutorials is a bespoke tutoring agency boasting a top-notch team of Native English graduates. Their multi-level and multidisciplinary approach includes tuition for maths, science, English, global development at IGCSE, AS/A Level and IB levels.
From pre-schoolers to seniors,
PowerBrain RX provides an intensive
brain training alternative to single-subject tutorials. Based on the tried and tested LearningRX programme, the PowerBrain RX system uses a combination of one-on-one and digital brain training programmes to strengthen fundamental cognitive skills. In short, they’ll unlock your little ones’
inner Einstein.
For families living in the New Territories,
Sai Kung Tutors is a good bet, especially for
maths tuition. The patient but no-nonsense tutors will also come to your home so you can keep a close eye on your little learners.
Speak Easy
In a cultural melting pot like Hong Kong,
language tutoring goes a long way in preparing your children for the next academic year and beyond. If your kids are not yet at school age, give them a step up in that ever-fierce fight for school places by signing them up for
Le Beaumont Language Centre, which offers English, Spanish, French, German, Japanese and Putonghua classes, cunningly disguised as playgroups for toddlers.
For older kids looking for hands-on instruction, let
Hong Kong Institute of Languages take them through the intricacies of Cantonese, English, French, German, Japanese, Mandarin or Spanish. Offering engaging private and small-group lessons since 1985, this team of talented tutors believes in learning languages for life.
For Italian tutoring, turn to
Dante Alighieri Society for one-on-one language classes that also provide authentic insight into Italian culture. For more China-centric tutoring however, the
Chinese Language Learning Centre and
Mandarin Adventures will clear up any confusion.
Studying Overseas
Finally, if you’re thinking of giving your children an
overseas education or an experience of a lifetime next summer, turn to
ITS Tutorial School. With a range of tailor-made private tuition programmes, exam preparation services and a school placement consultancy, this Central-based school will act as a solid springboard for your child’s next step overseas.
If you’re looking at sending them State Side, call on
Affinity Education for full service support at every step of the way. Guaranteeing a scholarship offer for every student, these US uni specialists will save you hassle and cash.
So whether you’re stocking up on staples for this year, planning for next summer or even looking a few years ahead of that, with Hong Kong’s hustle and bustle lifestyle, it pays to get a head start!