In the blink of an eye this moment has come. Summer 2016 is about to become a time of the past. And I will no longer be googling Dallas activities to do with kids in 100 degree weather. Summer started out as it always does…fantastic. Activities, crafts, home made popsicles, swimming, camps, late night movies, ect. It ends as it always does as well with tantrums, melt downs, constant I’m boreds, 108 degrees, pools that are hotter than a bath, and a short order snack chef (me) that is at her wits end. I literally will drive by school and get teary eyed. Not because my first is starting Pre K or because my last is starting parents day out, but because I literally cannot wait to have an hour alone. It’s is back to school time and I could not be more excited.
Putting end of summer feelings aside, I do love making memories with my kids. I mean after all I do have a business that is all about creating and celebrating childhood memories! They may never remember or care but I will and I will have plenty of photos to prove it! Making these memories isn’t always easy. Especially if you’re not creative or just incredibly busy. I have put together a list of 5 easy ways to make going back to school extra special for kids of any age!
- Time capsule. Spend the night before 1st day of school making a time capsule tradition with your littles. Use a small box and inside you can put a All About Me sheet (find these on Pinterest), yarn that’s the same length as the child, a photo, something that reminds them of their summer, and maybe a fun toy or piece of candy that they can open on the last day of school. Save this box and open on the last day of school. Kids LOVE to compare the yarn (and obviously the candy, duh).
- Breakfast surprise. Start the day off right with a special breakfast (think pancakes shaped in the number of their grade level). Take it next level by doing streamers and balloons in their doorway for when they wake up!
- The front door chalkboard photo. This is the time of year when Facebook and Instagram feed is full of these photos. All of our adorable kids dressed up in their best new clothes, clean backpacks and probably the best lunch they will get all year long. Let them hold a sign or chalkboard with their grade on it and voila!
- Special family dinner. Use the “good” dishes and make a special meal for this night when the family can chat about the day, new teachers, new friends, and the new year. This is also a good time for parents to get organized, make new school year resolutions and get a fresh re-charge for the new year!
- Boo Hoo Breakfast for moms. Gather a bunch of fellow school moms and head over to your favorite breakfast spot after the first school drop off. This is a great way to meet some of the new moms, reconnect with old friends and talk about all the excitement of the new year. And of course there are likely to share your tears of sadness, tears of joy, tears of disbelief and tears of who the heck knows why (hormones).
