End of School Year Fun and Activities

The end of the school year is a time for tweens to celebrate. All the hard work they did over the year is finally finished, at least it is for a few months. Be sure you and your child make the most of the end of the school year by establishing a few traditions or by planning a few activities for your child and his friends. Below are a few ideas to get you started.

End of School Year Traditions and Activities

Make Friendship Bracelets: Before the last day of school, have your tween sit down and make friendship bracelets for her class. Don't forget to make one for the teacher, too. Friendship bracelets are a great way to show that you value your classmates, and that you'll miss them until you see them again in the fall. And the supplies needed to make the bracelets are inexpensive, so you can afford to give one to all of your classmates.

Have a Pool Party or Backyard Barbecue: Invite your child's classmates over on the last day of school for a pool party or a backyard barbecue. You can even ask your guests to make a salad, sidedish or dessert, so that you're not shouldering the entire expense yourself. Be sure to plan plenty of games, such as relay races, or school trivia games, for the students. A sheet cake with your school's motto makes a nice touch, also.

Make Autograph T-Shirts: This is a great activity for an entire class to do together. Purchase plain, white T-shirts for everyone in the class, and then have everyone autograph each shirt using fabric markers. The children will be able to wear their shirts all summer, and remember all of their school mates at the same time.

Hand Out Class Superlatives: Before the last day, have your child and a classmate print off certificates for each student, and think of a superlative for every classmate, such as: best smile; smartest; funniest; easiest to get along with; had the best lunches, etc. Make sure all of the superlatives are positive and friendly. Before the bell rings on that last day, have your child ask his teacher if he can hand them out to his classmates.

Write a Thank-You Letter to the Teacher: Be sure your tween ends the school year by letting his teacher know how much he learned and how much fun he had in class. A personal note from a student can make a teacher's entire summer.

Establish an End of the School Year Tradition: Traditions are fun for any child and they look forward to them no matter how old they get. Establish an end of the school year tradition for you and your child. You could go out for ice cream every year when your child gets off the school bus, or you could have a special dinner, such as breakfast for dinner, every year. Other traditions might include: going to your favorite family restaurant; ordering pizza delivery; going shopping for summer clothes and swimwear; inviting friends over for a water balloon fight; or getting rid of all those old school supplies, notebooks and worksheets. Whatever you decide, keep to the tradition and make it your own.

Stay Up All Night: Normally, you want your tween to get a good night's sleep, but on the last day of school the rules go out the window. Let your child host a sleepover party for his or her closest friends and let them stay up as late as they want. After all, they don't have to be at school the next day, do they?