Back to School Celebrations
It seems impossible that we are already nearing the start of another school year. Back to school shopping is underway and shelves are packed with backpacks and supplies. This is a great time to order your new planner (ps. Have you seen our new cover designs?) or stock up on some new pens and tools. If you have kids going back to school, this time of year can feel bittersweet. The carefree, schedule-free days of summer are going away, but there is comfort too in returning to routines and a predictable schedule. But before you settle back in, it’s a fun time to give summer a proper send off and mark the new school year with some fun traditions. Today we have a fun list of 20 ways to celebrate the end of summer and the return of school.
Host a banana split party with friends. Put out lots of toppings and let the kids go wild with making their own creations.
Use the audio recording app on your phone to capture a short interview with your kids. Ask fun questions about their current favorite things and what they are looking forward to during the new school year.
Use chalk to write inspiring messages for all kids on the sidewalks near the school.
The first day of school always feels a little hectic. Wait until the end of the week and pick a special family activity to do in the afternoon or evening to mark the end of the first week.
Brainstorm a list of easy, fun lunches to make throughout the year. Keep it handy so the kids can help take part in the planning process and make packing lunches less of a chore.
Plan a back to school dinner or grab some favorite takeout and head to the park to run around and chat about the first day.
The first day can bring a lot of emotions and always feels a little stressful getting out the door again. After drop off, do something fun for yourself or with your partner or a friend. Have breakfast together at a favorite spot, grab a coffee and walk in the park, or get a pedicure!
As you shop and plan for the new school year, pick something fun to personalize! Maybe pick some fun iron-on patches for backpacks or add your child’s name or nickname to the back of a t-shirt or sweatshirt.
If you have multiple kids, let each kid pick a breakfast meal for their first day of school. Then based on their grade, make their special request on their special day. For example, your third grader might get their requested breakfast on the third day of school, your sixth grader on the sixth day of school, etc.
After your kids are asleep, line their doorway with some paper streamers and blow up some balloons to decorate their bedroom floor.
Around the first week of school, have each of your kids draw a self-portrait. Write the date on the back and store it in a folder you can add to each year.
After lots of late summer nights, mark the night before school with a new book for each kid. Start the bedtime routine a little earlier and give everyone some extra time to read and be quiet before bed.
Purchase an adult size t-shirt and add the year your child will graduate from high school to the front. Take their photo each year in the shirt and watch them grow throughout the years!
On the first Friday of the first week of school, bring a special treat to the bus stop to share with friends and other parents.
After the first week of school, watch sales and shop for discounted school supplies. Find local charities and schools that may be in need and donate the supplies.
Shake off the first day jitters with a fun song in the morning. Pick a song everyone likes and blast it out before everyone heads out the door.
Organize a spot for homework. Set up a central, quiet spot where kiddos can eat a snack and finish up homework after school.
Use the fresh start of school to set up some good routines for the year (setting out clothes the night before, placing baskets at clutter points to manage the mess, and spending time together once a week prepping some items for lunchboxes).
Gather some easy recipes for make-ahead smoothies, waffles, overnight oats, and oatmeal to prep breakfasts for low-stress mornings during the week.
The onslaught of paper and overflowing backpacks is returning! Stay on top of it by organizing a bin or accordion folder for each kid to stash special artwork, writing, and mementos from the school year.
Hope you snagged some good ideas for your own back to school time. We want to hear from you! Tell us how you’re marking the new school year in your house. Does your family have favorite traditions in your house? And don’t forget, it’s never too late to make a new family tradition. It doesn’t even need to happen every year. Do it once and you’ve already established a tradition!