Back-to-School Fun for Kids

I know, I know, no one wants to think about back-to-school time. But I know some people who have gone back already and many of us will have kiddos heading back to school soon (or starting up homeschooling again), and there are ways to make it a little more fun for all of us.

If you have preschoolers or are a preschool teacher, check out these cute back to school songs for preschoolers. They’d be great for circle time or walking through the halls. You’ll find them at Teaching Mama.

You might also like to do a preschool countdown with books about going to school if you have a child who is going to school for the first time, or who has the jitters (or is excited about it, for that matter). Hands On As We Grow has the details, and Buggy and Buddy has a great list of books for back-to-school time not just for preschoolers.

Or keep your countdown a little simpler (but still super cute) with a paper chain countdown like the one at Preschool Inspirations. Tear a loop of each day until it’s time to go back to school. Honestly, I think my almost-8-year-old would love one of these, too.

My Life and Kids has a great roundup of back-to-school games, some of which are great for teachers to use in the classroom and others can be played at home. Or check out the back to school word search from Superheroes and Teacups.

This sweet bus craft with family photos from No Time for Flash Cards is great for a child going to school or riding the bus for the first time, or for a child missing their older sibling while they are still at home.

All kids seem to love terrible jokes, and this collection from Kids Activities Blog has some groaners that will be great for breaking the ice at school or getting rid of some nervousness on the ride to school. (Example: How do you get straight A’s? By using a ruler!)

You’ll find more great jokes in the form of printable lunch notes at Happiness is Homemade, where she also has an amazing roundup of other sources for printable lunchbox notes that will keep you going all year.

Make your mornings a little easier with tips from B-Inspired Mama. And don’t forget to do something cute for your first day of school photos (might I suggest my easy chalkboard sign?) and make sure you think about your family’s privacy before you post those photos online (thanks for the reminders, JDaniel4’s Mom).

How do you celebrate or prepare for going back to school? I’d love to hear your ideas!

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Lesson Plans for Kids Who Love Encanto

I’m in deep denial about the fact that new year is almost upon us again! It’s been the fastest and the longest year at the same time, and I can look back and see some good things as well as some things I wish had gone differently.

Doing a year in review with your kids — whether in the classroom or at home — is a good way to capture some of their memories and the things they really liked about the year gone by.

There are a lot of different printable year in review worksheets you can use if you want to make this super easy. Here are links to a few (often part of larger posts about NYE celebrations with kids that are worth a read, too):

Teach Beside Me has lots of fun printables fro the end of the year, including a year in review that covers favorite memory, funniest memory and the best book they read, among other topics.
NurtureStore‘s version has space for a self-portrait and prompts like favorite toy, best day out this year and future dream job.
Remember favorites, their “best idea” of the year and have room for setting goals for next year with this one from The Keele Deal.
The year in review from Yes We Made This has room for drawing or writing and includes things like something they learned, a memory they made and a place they visited.

Of course you could pretty easily make your own year in review for the whole family to do that asks questions based on what you most want to remember. (Favorite video game? Best friend? Favorite family memory?)

And if after the year in review you’re ready to look ahead a bit, Mrs. Merry has new year’s resolution printables to inspired kids to look ahead and set goals for things they want to try. You can totally fill this one out as a grownup, too.

[Photo: Mrs. Merry]

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