With millions of children impacted by school closures due to COVID-19 and parents trying to balance working from home and homeschooling, many have turned to digital tools for some help. National Geographic’s NatGeo@Home is blurring the lines between education and play to keep kids entertained.

With parents home-schooling during the lockdown, their time is stretched between their domestic and professional duties. Former Blue Peter presenter Konnie Huq is lending a hand with a series of educational shows on YouTube to keep little ones entertained and give parents a break.

Online retail may be the norm for many people, but more than half of back-to-school shoppers plan to go in-store for purchases. This highlights how, when it comes to life milestones that carry an element of tradition, people have a tendency to stick with what they know best.

Back-to-school shopping is rarely a stress-free experience, and while the rise of e-commerce means parents don’t have to leave home to pick up supplies, creeping costs and increasingly influential kids are adding to their concerns. So, how do they go about preparing for a new school year?