Stay Cool This Summer - Fun Gift Idea

Use this tag to create a fun end of the school year gift for friends, family or neighbors.  It comes in two sizes and is FREE from eighteen25.  Click here to get your free Stay Cool summer tags.

3 End Of The School Year Teacher gifts For Giving

Sweet Teacher Candy Bar wrapper
 
Show your appreciation for a SWEET school year with this free candy bar printable from Nothing But Country.  Click here to print yours now.

Grass is Greener

Create this fun Grass is Greener mug for that special Teacher your child has had all year.  Free printable and how to create from Nothing But Country.  Click here to go there now.

Teacher Subway Soap Dispenser

A Little Bit of This and That added the perfect creative touch to a store bought bottle of soap or you can use a bottle of hand sanitizer to thank your children's Teachers this school year.  Click here for complete how to instructions.

Teacher Appreciation - Hershey kisses labels

I think my children would tell you that I am addicted to Hershey kisses so when I saw this cute idea to use them to appreciate teachers and school staff I just had to share it with you in case you share my same addiction and want to pass your favorite treat out to your children's teachers and school staff.

Thanks to Lauren McKinsey Designs for offering this FREE printable.  Click here to get your FREE download now.

Organizing School Papers and Supplies

By Trisha

Weare just days away from the final school bell ringing and my kidsarriving home with bags of school papers, art projects and even a pileof well used school supplies ready for me to sort, organize and dispose.

How can you organize this year’s end of school year piles? Click here to read Trisha's tips to Organizing School Papers and Supplies at SC Johnson

Be sure to leave me  a comment over at SC Johnson

Ding Dong Ditch

We found this fun idea over at Poppies at play blog.  I believe that  part of growing up is learning how to Ding Dong Ditch.

Traditionally this is learned and practiced without parent participation.

Poppies at play thinks we need to change that. She says we need to teach our children the basics of knocking and running with this fun Ding Dong Ditch printable idea

Click here for your FREE printable.  Now think who you will Ding Dong Ditch

Dr. Seuss End Of The School Year Tradition

Several years ago I  purchased two copies of the Dr. Seuss book Oh, the Places You’ll Go to use as a new tradition with my two youngest boys (Caleb and Nate-no).  At the end of each school year I have their school teachers write a little note inside these books to them. When they graduate from High School I will present the filled book to them and allow others to sign it at their graduation party.

I came up with this idea as I was looking at the copy of this book given to my #1 Son (Stephen Jr) when he graduated from Kindergarten. The giver had signed the book with a little note to him. It’s too late to now to have all of Stephen Jr's teachers sign his copy - he graduated from High School in 2008. But, there is still time for a new tradition for the 2 youngest boys. Now to just remember to have their teachers sign it each year.

* You can start this at any grade or age.

End Of The School Year Celebration Ideas

Be the COOL Summer mom with one or more of our end of the School year celebration ideas.

Countdown

Countdown Calendar: Make a big calendar to hang on the wall for the last month of school. Have your child write down things she wants to do when school is over and then add some of those very things into the calendar and show her that school days and fun days don't have to be separate.

At School

Decorated lunch bag – on the last day of school decorate a paper sack with markers saying things like "Last lunch of the year" - "Happy Last day of 4th grade" you could even use a colored handle gift bag and use ribbon to keep it closed.

T-Shirt fun - create a last day of school T-shirt that their friends can sign using fabric markers. You could even doll it up with iron on transfers that you place pictures from the year on or cute sayings.

Book Signing- Purchase either Dr. Seuss " oh, the places you will go" or Curious George " On your way" books and have your Children's teacher sign it each year until they graduate from high school then present it to them as a keepsake from their school years. ( You can start this tradition at any grade).

Bus Stop Celebrations

Greet your child or all of the children with a balloon

Greet your child or all of the children with a Popsicle

Create a large banner and allow the children to run through sign as they exit the bus.



Mom and Me

Take your daughters for Pedicures

Take kids out for ice cream either right after school or after dinner

Go shopping for swim suits or 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.



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

Host an outdoor treasure hunt

Watermelon eating contest'

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

Beach bag filled with summer items

Beach towel with items tied to it ( sunglasses, flip flops, book)

Reusable water bottle for summer with their name on it

Flip flops

Sunglasses, sunscreen or lipstick with spf 15 or higher

Gift card to McDonalds , bookstore, Jamba juice etc.

Spa kits for DIY night ( Do It Yourself)

Bubbles for younger ones or sidewalk chalk.

New swim suits

Games

Water toys

Kiddie pools

Life vests

Picnic Celebration

Have a picnic at your kids’ school on the play ground

Take a Picnic to a local park

If all else fails –picnic in the backyard

HOME SWEET HOME

Have graduation theme music playing when they arrive home

Make a sign that says welcome home ( 4th 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.



Summer Reading Fun

Take kids to the library to check out books for free and get them their own library card.

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.



Special Eats/Treats

Special Breakfast in the AM smoothies etc

Make homemade ice cream or Popsicles

Sno cones

Make “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.



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).



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).

24/7 MOMS wants to hear YOUR end of school year celebration ideas Click here to leave your ideas on the 24/7 MOMS community boards.

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.