by Melanie Hicks

Created on: April 13, 2009

The pencil is a must for every student. However, it can be one of the most difficult decisions to make. They come in a maddening array of colors, designs, types, etc. "Where do I begin" is a question I'm sure numerous parents ask themselves as they make a valiant effort to collect everything their child might need. Maybe after you read this, you will be better suited to make that all important choice.

First, let's look at the "man's best friend" of pencils...the good ole trusty "#2". As anyone who has ever been in school surely knows, a well sharpened #2 is a must! They are so great, they are required by state for testing purposes, so suffice it to say they most definitely will be a wise investment. However, you should be aware of the fact that these will require a pencil sharpener (a small hand held one is best to avoid those constant trips to the front of the class to return it to it's sharpened state).

Next, we'll take a look at "designer" pencils. These may look sleek and have appealing colors and/or designs, but are they really that practical? I know when I was in school these were not allowed to be used on state tests and will also most likely require extra time because of their constant need to be sharpened. Not only that, but when you sharpen them they have that layer of plastic that never quite seems to sit flat to the pencil once it is sharpened. After a while, temptation will get the best of any pencil over and soon the plastic will be peeled off and your child will be left with a mound of plastic pencil covering and a plain white pencil. Yuck! So please be advised, these are not the most practical of things, but in the end it's a matter of preference.

Lastly, we'll look at the mechanical pencil. Ah, I remember my first mechanical pencil. So sleek and space-agey, they made me feel like the professional I was studying to be. These pencils slightly resemble pens and click down thin sticks of lead. This type of lead can be purchased in small hard plastic cartridges, so it can be easily stored and readily available when the pencil needs refilled. They have the great advantage of never needing to be sharpened but have the disadvantage of needing those oh-so important refills. They may be a bit pricier but, in my opinion, are well worth the slight price difference (but be aware that some may not come with an eraser that may need to be purchased separately).

When it comes right down to it the choice is yours to determine which would be best for your child. Hopefully I have made it easier to make that decision because a good pencil can make all the difference.

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