Why Pilot Pens Are My Back-to-School Heroes

My school-age years have long passed, but there is still something eternally intoxicating about back-to-school season. Store aisles transform into a virtual rainbow of items: clean notebooks, crisp binders and, of course, fresh sets of writing and drawing tools. Sharing this as my own children get ready for their academic year is a joy that also comes with big questions: “How will I juggle all of my daughter’s activities?” and “Will she handle the stress of school okay?” But one thing I don’t worry about is how I’ll keep us put-together during the school year.

For any parent, keeping an organized schedule is key, and the tools I use to get there are just as crucial. I’m a sucker for a good planner, and I’m not ashamed to admit I’m a diehard pen snob (it’s my opinion you can’t beat a Pilot for durability, quick-dry lines, writing ease and svelte design). Read on for some ways that having the right tools can make your life — and your child’s — easier this school year.

When you write for a living and have school-age children like I do, the type of pen you use really matters. To-do lists, grocery lists, homework, notes — it never ends. Pilot G2 pens, the longest-lasting, best-selling gel ink pens in America, feature comfortable grips that deliver an enjoyable writing experience, no matter how long you’re in the trenches.

When it comes to making your family calendar, color is key. Use a black Pilot G2, which dries quickly and resists smudging. Or go colorful all the way with the fine-tipped Precise assorted-color pens, which come in a dozen vivid colors and three different point sizes, so you can customize everything exactly as you want it. Visually categorize your kids’ activities (say, purple for dance class and blue for swim lessons), or assign a color to each child — whatever works for you to make your scheduler a vibrant and efficient tool that serves as an at-a-glance resource for the entire family.

And you don’t have to forgo the smooth experience of writing with a pen for the flexibility of a pencil, simply for its ability to be erased. It seems almost too good to be true, but FriXion pens are designed to be erasable. So changed plans no longer mean rewriting your schedule and to-do list from scratch — and homework mistakes won’t have to end in a meltdown. Thermo-sensitive ink in this Good Housekeeping Seal holder reacts to the friction from the eraser, making it easy to start over, no matter what.

The company states that more than 60% of its products are refillable, making Pilot products a no-brainer investment. Not only do your kids not have to worry about running out of ink during class (just throw a couple of refills in their bag), but it’s also a great lesson on avoiding throwaway culture: Instead of each pen becoming landfill fodder as soon as it’s empty, it can be used over and over — while also saving you a bit of money.

Writing a thank-you card for a teacher, only to have it smudge as soon as you close the card, is a thing of the past with Pilot G2 pens. Their quick-drying gel ink means you don’t have to worry about messy mistakes — so you won’t have to fret about ink-stained sleeves the next time you’re jotting down PTA-meeting notes, either.