Does your family celebrate the last day of school?
We love to celebrate lots of different events throughout the year in our house. We have had birthday parties for our dogs, birthday parties for our stuffed animals, celebrations for opening night of Marvel movies, and all the regular holiday celebrations too.
One of my favorite traditions is to do something fun for our kids on the last day of school. Our kids have been through a lot this school year and a celebration might be in order! Online school, masks, social distancing, changed schedules, and reduced extracurriculars have all been stressful for kids too!
None of our celebrations are very elaborate. I typically stop by the Dollar Tree for a couple of balloons and include a dessert/special treat too.
Last Day of School Celebrations
Here are some ideas to get you started planning your family’s end-of-the-school-year celebration. I have tried to include all the Love Languages in the ideas if you happen to know your child’s primary love language.
At Home
- Balloons in their bedrooms
- Special breakfast foods
- An encouraging or congratulations card written by you for your child
- Sidewalk chalk notes on the way to the bus stop
Small Gifts
- A water toy for the pool
- New t-shirt for summer
- Flip flops
- Bubble machine
- Sidewalk chalk
- Bell, streamers, or wheel beads for their bike
- Disposable camera for your adventures
- Summer pajamas
After School Family Activities
- Mini golf
- Stop for ice cream
- Plan a picnic cinner or special restaurant/takeout
- Go to a movie
- Visit a cupcake or donut shop
- Have a movie night at home with popcorn and movie theater candy
- Do a game night at home
- Play pinball or games at a local arcade
Big Ideas
- Plan a weekend getaway (We personally did this last year to get away from the world for a bit. We found an Airbnb on a quiet lake just north of Des Moines. We fished, walked, played games, and snacked all weekend.)
- Host a backyard party for a few friends or neighbors
- Go on a surprise vacation
I think the key to a good celebration is to make your kids feel special and to bring the family together. Keep it about your kids, not necessarily what you would want to do. My kids love a surprise, so I try to add that in as well!
