Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Stages

4 ways to make going back to school fun for kids

By

Summer is winding down, and the kids heading back to school are probably nervous about going back, but also sad that their summer vacation is over. It’s up to parents to make the transition a little easier and smoother. Making sure they get a good quality education is important, but so is their mental health. They may have some jitters about going back, but it’s easy to create some back-to-school fun that will get them in the school spirit in no time at all.

Back to school shopping

One of the very best parts of going back to school for kids is going back to school shopping. They love perusing the water bottles, backpacks, and lunch pails, amongst many other items. If you get them in on the fun, it will be great for them to pick out what they want, knowing that they are going into school with something that expresses their personality perfectly. In addition to school supplies, kids love to pick out their own clothing.

Recommended Videos

In addition to big-box stores, remember to check out the mom-and-pop clothing stores, stationery stores, and the like. You never know what they will have. Plenty of times, they stock some pretty cool and unique items that your child may like for school. There are interesting journals, notebooks, pens, totes, and so much more.

Confetti
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Host a back-to-school party

Now, this can be with just your immediate family, and everyone can celebrate with delicious treats while they talk about why they’re excited about school. On the other hand, and this may help with your child’s anxiety about school a little bit, they can have some of their friends come over and just make it a fun night. You can have games set up, or you can make it unstructured, let the kids mingle kind of party. Make dinner easy on you. Finger foods are good, and pizza is a great choice. Then grab some sweet treats for after dinner and the kids will be thrilled with their “back-to-school party.”

This is an activity that will help your child open up a little bit more when they go back to school. It’s great for the other kids that attend the party, as well. School-inspired games can be a fun activity and even an icebreaker for some kids. Then, at the end of the night, you can give the kids some special advice about going back to school, and hand out school-themed goodie bags with items like pencils and erasers in them.

Twinkling Book
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Create a space for them

For many children, the thought of homework does not excite them. This is especially true when they feel like they do not have a private space to do their own homework. A great idea is to create a space or a kind of “nook” for them to do their homework in. Help them find a good spot, give it a good cleaning, and have them make it 100% theirs by decorating it however they want to. This can not only be a homework nook, but a reading nook as well, or just a special place that they can go to when they need some quiet time.

Alternatively, if there is not one already in their room, create a space for a desk. Not only will they think that it is great because they are getting older, but a good desk and chair will go a long way in helping them do their homework. Decorate the desk with pencil holders, pencils, sticky notes, and whatever they like, so they can make it theirs.

Back-to-school-eve dinner and routine

Nothing says special like enjoying your favorite meal. Allow them to pick out what they want to have for dinner the night before school starts. Get the whole family to sit down to dinner and “celebrate” going back to school. On the other hand, you could even celebrate by taking them out for lunch or dinner. Even better, let them pick the restaurant where they want to eat. They will love that you are giving them that kind of control and will definitely enjoy a pre-school-eve outing!

While going back to school can be a little bit nerve-wracking, it does not have to be. You can show your children that it can be a great experience and is something to look forward to. These tips are here to help give you ideas of what your child might like to do before they go back to school. You can even talk to your child about it and see if they have any ideas of their own. That way, you can both get excited about the start of a new school year.

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Jennifer Passmore
Jennifer Passmore
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Jennifer has written two books on how to deal with living with chronic illness using the power of positivity. She has written…
Is your kid screaming for no reason? Here are ways to deal with a screaming child’s behavior
There are easy ways to handle this behavior if your kid has hit this stage
Young girl is screaming with fingers in her ears.

Unfortunately, temper tantrums are a natural development phase for most kids, but some children take it to the extreme. When your kid won't stop screaming and you don't know why, it makes you want to scream, too. Tension is high, frustration is bubbling, and parents can feel like they've lost control. If the behavior happens repeatedly, it's enough to drive you up the walls. Dealing with a screaming child's behavior is definitely one of the least favorite things for a parent.
Don't worry, there are ways to deal with this situation so you'll both feel better! Your child is feeling just as frustrated as you are, and with patience and understanding, you'll get to a place where you both remain calm. With these tips and expert advice, your house will soon be quieter. A screaming child's behavior doesn't have to leave the whole house in tears, so here's some help.

How to get your child to stop screaming

Read more
25 creative journal prompts for kids
How to get kids into journaling
Blank journal page with flowers

Many children, especially tweens and teens, are reluctant to write. There's something about staring at a blank page that's slightly intimidating regardless of your age. The wonderful thing about a journal is that it's a personal space to share and explore your thoughts, emotions, and more.

Journals are often used in the classroom for a variety of subjects, such as language arts, science, history, and even math. A portion of a class period is sometimes used simply for journal writing. Writing in a journal offers kids a lot of benefits on and off the page, improving writing and study skills while giving kids an outlet for their thoughts, worries, and emotions. It often starts simply enough at the start of the period with journal prompts for kids. This school tool is also something parents can do at home.
Journaling with kids

Read more
How old do you have to be to fly alone? Read this before booking your kid’s trip
Find out the right age for solo flying and other important facts
Little girl watching movie on the seat-back TV screen while enjoying her airline meal

If you thought traveling with kids was stressful, try sending them off on a flight alone. For many parents, it's necessary to send their child on a flight by themselves, whether it's for a vacation, to visit a parent who lives far away, or for any number of reasons. If you find yourself in a position where your child may need to travel without you, you may ask yourself, "How old do you have to be to fly alone?"
All airlines have their own rules and regulations regarding unaccompanied minors, so parents or caregivers must be aware that there isn't one specific set of rules that applies to all airlines. Before booking any trip, parents need to ensure they know the airline's policy regarding how old they have to be to fly alone and be aware that there are often extra fees that apply when a child flies without an adult.

When can children fly alone?
Typically, airlines have unaccompanied minor policies in place for children between the ages of 5 and 14 years old, which means children under 5 are not allowed to fly solo, regardless of whether they're traveling with an older unaccompanied minor or not.

Read more