Kick the School Year Off Right: A Back to School Bash for Elementary Kids

Preparing for your child's return to school can be stressful for any parent, especially since most children do not particularly relish the idea of returning to a classroom. However, there are ways to help your child prepare for going back to the classroom without having to resort to telling them they are going, and ending the discussion. One fun way to get your child geared up and ready to head back to school is to throw them an "End of Summer Bash" to enjoy with all their friends.

Now, I know you are thinking to yourself, great just what I need another expense to add to my back to school list, but it doesn't have to be expensive, and even without loads of expense you can give each child one last fun summer night to add to their traditional "What I Did This Summer" essay that kicks off each school year.

First, make a list of your child's school friends. Maybe you can think of a few that they haven't been able to keep in touch with over the summer, but that they enjoyed playing with throughout the year. Have your child help you with the list by telling them that you know they are about to have to return to school, but you wanted to give them one last fun thing to do during the summer.

After your list is complete, have your child help you make invitations for all the friends on the list, and for you parents with elementary age children this will give them some much needed practice in writing, spelling and reading while they are having fun.

Once your invitations are out, begin gathering things for a campfire, a hot dog roast, chips and snacks, and spooky stories by the fire time. Also, start gathering things to give as prizes for party games, but keep them all school themed.

For instance, if you have an elementary aged son, get superhero pencils or ink pens, notepads with superheroes on the front, erasers shaped like race cars, construction paper with instructions on making a pirate ship, books about some of their favorite characters from television, anything that would get them motivated about learning. Plan plenty of party games such as word scrambles and other learning related activities, and be sure to have plenty of prizes for the "winners" of each game. Show them that learning can really be fun.

Have all of the friends to bring sleeping bags and set up tents. Make it a final sleepover before the summer ends. Be sure and have a camera ready and snap pictures throughout the night. Capture those memories for the kids! Maybe, when they are all in their tents for the night, you can arrange for another adult to help you scare them out of the tents and be there to snap pictures when they come running out.

This is a great way to end the summer on a happy note, and remind the kids about the most fun part of returning to school, spending time with their friends every day. Before school starts back, make each child a small booklet with pictures and stories about their "End of Summer Bash" and have your child give them to the people that attended on the first day of school.

This gives all of the kids a nice surprise on their first day back, and provides your child with an easy way to reconnect at school. Well, the summer is almost over, so I have to run and get stuff for a hot dog roast, but enjoy your "End of Summer Bash".