10 TIPS for Celebrating the End of the School Year

Why not kick off the summer with FUN? 10 TIPS to help you be the COOL summer mom.


1. Bus Stop Celebrations
Greet with a balloon
Greet with a Popsicle
Create a large banner and allow kids to run through sign.

2. 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.

3. 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
Watermelon eating contest'


4. Give “Celebration” Gifts (stuff you will buy anyways)
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.

5. Picnic Celebration
Have a picnic at your kids’ school on the play grounds
Picnic at local park
If all else fails –picnic in the backyard

6. 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.


7. Summer Reading Fun
Take kids to library check out books for free
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.

8. Special Eats/Treats
Special Breakfast in the AM smoothies etc
Make homemade ice cream or Popsicles
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.

9. 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).

10. 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).


These Tips are from the 24/7 MOMS Live weekly TIP TALK

What are you doing to celebrate the end of the school year with your children? Share your ideas with us.