My Mom reputation has become the MOM who thinks school gets in her way for Family Fun -which is why so I am so ready to begin celebrating the end of the school year and welcome my kids home to SUMMER VACATION. Last week on 24/7 MOMS Live webcast we shared the below ideas with our mom viewers to help them celebrate the end of the school year.
Remember these are IDEAS do not run out and overwhelm yourself trying to pull these all off. Try one or two of them and add some fun as your kids end their school year.
Counting The Days
Countdown Calendar: Make a big calendar to hang on the wall for the last month of school. Have your child write down things she wants to do when school is over and then add some of those very things into the calendar and show her that school days and fun days don't have to be separate.
At School Celebrations
Decorated lunch bag – on the last day of school decorate a paper sack with markers saying things like "Last lunch of the year" - "Happy Last day of 4th grade" you could even use a colored handle gift bag and use ribbon to keep it closed.
T-Shirt fun - create a last day of school T-shirt that their friends can sign using fabric markers. You could even doll it up with iron on transfers that you place pictures from the year on or cute sayings.
Book Signing- Purchase either Dr. Seuss " oh, the places you will go" or Curious George " On your way" books and have your Children's teacher sign it each year until they graduate from high school then present it to them as a keepsake from their school years. ( You can start this tradition at any grade).
Letter From Teachers - Ask each of your children's teachers to write your child a letter at the end of the school year. This is great for scrap booking or keeping for your child's graduation.
Picture Time: Give your children disposable cameras and allow them to take pictures of their last day of school activities and friends.
Pick-Up Fun: Arrive at school with your car all decorated with balloons, fun messages written on your windows what a fun greeting as your kids arrive into the parking lot.
At The Bus Stop Celebrations
Celebrate by greeting kids with Balloons, Popsicles etc when they walk off the bus.
At Home Celebrations
1. Mom and Me
Take your daughters for Pedicures
Take kids out for ice cream either right after school or dinner
Go shopping for swim suits or even flip flops/sandals
Go out for a movie, or putt putt golf
SURPRISE – treat them each year to a fun “school’s out” activity. Give them clues before leaving home. (I.E.-Movie, putt golf, local activity part, laser tag, Chuckie Cheese) Change up each year for an added surprise, invite friends.
2. Kick off the Summer Party
Host a neighborhood or friend party (send out summer themed invites such as on beach balls or message in a bottle)
- Water gun fight and balloons
- Rent a jumpy house and serve simple food
- Outdoor treasure hunt
- Musical beach blankets
- Limbo
Gi 3. “Celebration” Gifts (stuff you will buy anyways)
Beach bag filled or beach towel with items tied to it
Reusable water bottle for summer
Flip flops
Sunglasses, sunscreen or lipstick with spf 15 or higher
Gift card to McDonalds or bookstore
Spa kits for DIY night (Do It Yourself)
Bubbles for younger ones or sidewalk chalk.
Beach towels
New swim suits
games
Water toys
Kiddie pools
Life vests
Beach bags / re-usable totes
Gift Card Bouquet – great for teens and put cards from places they will be going all summer such as coffee shops, fast food, movies etc.
MOM I'm Bored Jar – Create a jar filled with ideas to do this summer that are free, fun and creative
4. Picnic Celebration
Picnic at local park
If all else fails –picnic in the backyard
5. HOME SWEET HOME
Have graduation theme music playing when they arrive home
Make a sign that says welcome home (grader); put the grade they will be entering in the fall
Family MOVIE night- bring TV outside and have a home “drive in”
Sleepover outside under the stars.
Kids Choice Dinner – What they want to eat and where to eat it
6. Summer Reading Fun
Take kids to library check out books for free and get them a card if they don’t have one
Go to half price books or thrift store to purchase used books
Take kids to local bookstore and purchase a NEW summer reading book
Don’t forget magazines, comic books or crossword puzzles for FUN reads.
7. Special Eats/Treats
Special Breakfast in the AM smoothies etc Make homemade ice cream or Popsicles
Sno cones
Eat “grad hats”- mini peanut butter cup, top with chocolate graham cracker and add fruit leather as tassel
Make favorite summer lunch/dinner (hot dogs, hamburgers and s’mores)
Special dinner - decorate table (celebration style) and serve special dessert
Serve chocolate dipped strawberries, fresh fruit salad or fruit kabobs
Bake favorite cookies and serve fresh out of the oven.
8. Backyard Surprise
Create SPA experience, lounge chairs, water with lemons
Set up badminton, crochet or other favorite outdoor game
Set up slip and slide, squirt guns or water experience
Decorate party style with balloons, streamers and cake
Reorganize the backyard with new outdoor toys (check thrift stores).
9. Morning After- celebrate the first day off from school
PJ day- stay in jammies all day
Eat sugary cereal
Throw or put away all items that resemble school (papers, lunch boxes, school clothes)
Go out for a morning breakfast or brunch
Drag out summer clothes
Rearrange bedroom- give it a new feel
Celebrate “extended bedtime” (I.E. move bedtime 15 mins. to 1 hour).
How do you celebrate the end of the school year?
