5 Ways to Beat the Back-to-School Blues

There seems to be a collective groan across the country as kids begin heading back to school and say goodbye to summer. Help them turn groans into grins with these five fantastic ideas. 1. Host a Back-to-School fashion show. Let the kids show off their new duds and rock to their favorite music with a back-to-school fashion show. Invite their friends and families to participate too. Have the kids prepare their own playlists, and create a runway using a strip of wrapping paper before rocking the runway. 2. Create a time capsule. Fill an airtight container with information about each kid on the first day of school: height, homeroom teacher, favorite school subject, TV shows, movies, and music. Include their thoughts about the school year, such as: I am most looking forward to... I am least looking forward to... The thing my teacher will appreciate most about me is... The thing I'm most excited to learn about is... At the end of the year, I think I will be... Snap a photo of each of the kids and bury them in the capsule, along with all of the information, in the yard. Plan to dig it up on the last day of school and see how they compare with their past selves. 3. Host a back-to-school movie night. There's nothing like a party to lift the spirits of the school-aged. Invite friends over for a viewing of a school-themed film, such as Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Napoleon Dynamite, Freaky Friday, Never Been Kissed, Harry Potter, or any other favorites. Serve pizza, popcorn, sodas, and sympathetic encouragement for a great new year. 4. Have an end-of-summer closing ceremony. Create closure by giving summer a final farewell. Create a photo slideshow filled with all of your photos from the summer. Reminisce about vacations, activities, and favorite moments. Have a summer-themed meal: BBQ, watermelon, corn on the cob, etc. Set up a tent in the backyard for one final "camp out." 5. Lend a listening ear. Kids' anxiety about a new school year is a real thing, especially if they are transitioning to a new school or situation. Encourage them to talk about their fears and feelings, validate their concerns, and help them to problem-solve practical issues. Share your own experiences and show confidence in them to navigate the situation. (In my opinion, these conversations are best had over a batch of fresh cookies.) Do you have any other ideas? Share them in the comments section!