We are right in the middle of summer vacation, but it is coming up quickly! I am starting to think about what crafts the kids and I can do before the first day of school. If you are a parent, you know how much time and energy goes into getting your kids ready for school. With back to school just around the corner, we’ve put together a list of fun ideas for parents and kids that will help get them ready for the new year.
Fun Ideas for Back to School Photos
1. Take a photo of your child with their favorite teacher!
2. To get in the mood for back to school, dress up in a school outfit and take some silly photos with your child!
3. Get outside and take some pictures. Have your young child pose for the camera while they play with their friends or dog!
4. Bring the whole family together to take photos at home or on your phone's camera to document everyone's day-to-day life.
Check out this blog post for more fun back to school photo ideas.
To feel prepared and maybe a little organized, grab these free back to school meal plan printables from Bright and Busy Kids.
Back to School Books for Kids
Looking for cute back to school books? My favorite back to school kids books include:
● Frog and Toad All Year
● Rex Wrecks It! by
● Miss Nelson is Missing
See a full list of back to school books for kids here.
Back to School Shopping
Back to school time can get really expensive, really quickly. I like to save money on back to school shopping by shopping online and using my Kohl's cash that I earn for shopping there. They have tons of great sales all year long on clothing, shoes, accessories and more.
Another good place to get discounted back to school stuff is a thrift store or consignment shop. You will find books, clothes, furniture and much more all at a fraction of the price.
There are many ways to save on back to school shopping.
Send the kiddos off to school with laughter (in their lunch box).
Why are principals friendly? Because they're princi-PALS!
Which letter comes after A in the alphabet? All of them!
Grab this free lunch box jokes kid printable from Kelly's Thoughts on Things.
Back to school crafts
Make a vibrant, happy crayon wreath using just a few supplies like crayons, wide ribbon, scissors, and hot glue. See the full tutorial over at Dollar Crafter.
Looking for an adorable teacher gift that they'll actually use? These Back to School Mason Jars are simple enough to make that kiddos can help without making too big of a mess! :)
Another craft teachers will appreciate: this teacher gift box. It can be used as a desk organizer, or a holder for all kinds of odds and ends. Filling it with supplies is the icing on the cake, because we all know how much of their own money teachers spend on classroom supplies each year. Adding a gift card would be a nice touch, too.
Back to School Recipes
Looking for some sweet back to school treats? Try these adorable and equally yummy composition notebook cupcakes and notebook cookies.
Not quite a dessert, but still sweet and delicious, this banana split trail mix hits the spot any time of day. Want a banana split for breakfast as you're walking out the door? Well, why not?
Delicious breakfast on the brain? Banana chocolate French toast is where it's at. No syrup needed. Yum!
School day mornings are so hectic. It's a wonder anyone gets dressed and fed, and out the door on time. DIY freezer breakfast sandwiches are prepared ahead of time and taste just the same when you reheat them. Winning!
If you forget to make the freezer breakfast sandwiches, you can quickly make this toasted peanut butter and jelly in a jiffy... no pun intended. ;)
Want to be a supermom? Here are some Bento Box lunch ideas to make your kiddo's lunches the talk of the cafeteria.
The kids spent all day at school but you still had a million chores to do and errands to run. Who has time for cooking a full meal over the stove? Not me! I love these kid-friendly Instant Pot recipes from Easy Instant Recipes. They'll save everyone tonight!