It's the End of School- Let's Celebrate with Our Kids! ALMOST Post-Pandemic Edition

Ways to Celebrate with Your Kids at the End of the School Year (2020-2021 Edition)

By: Katie McAfee

First of all, no matter HOW you made it through this school year, you did. Seriously, here is a (virtual) gold star because this year was no joke. Whether it was online or hybrid or in the building, it was just rough. You deserve that gold star and so do your KIDS! They are total rock stars. Now granted, not all of them (sadly) know any different, but they did SUCH a great job!

There were hard times, there were sad times, there were crazy and confusing times. Somehow, though, you made it through a whole year of whatever “this” is.

Excuse me for my teacher voice (yes, I parent my 3 children with my hubby AND teach Pre-K), but what do we do when we did a great job? WE CELEBRATE!!! WOOOO HOOOO!

Here are some ways to do just that:

1. A water gun fight. Yep. Water guns. Fill them up, leave them where your kids can find them with a note to challenge them (or just say it, if your little one can’t read, yet), then go hide with your own and HAVE FUN! Oh my goodness, just HAVE SOME FUN! This activity is done best at home.

2. A water balloon fight. If you don’t own water guns, that’s ok. You can use water balloons instead! Same idea- load up the water balloons, leave them where your kids can find them with a note to challenge them to a water balloon fight (something along the lines of “come and find me”), hide with your own in hand, and let the fun begin!

3. A picnic. This one covers a broad spectrum of comfort levels and weather. Some places you can have your end-of- school picnic with your kids is the park, your backyard/deck, or even the living room floor. I’ll be honest- I’ve been having “lunch picnics” in the living room since my now 8-year-old was 18 months old! A picnic can literally have whatever food you have on hand OR you can order in a special lunch. The possibilities are truly endless with this one.

4. A dance party. Dance parties are super easy to have- just turn on the music (phone, tv, radio, etc.) and JUST DANCE. For an extra special touch, you can always add a little disco ball. You can get them pretty cheap on Amazon.

5. An ice-cream making day. This one involves some before-hand preparation. Your children will LOVE making something with you, especially if it’s tasty and can be eaten at the end. You can do this inside or outside, though. With just a few simple ingredients and lots of rolling, you and your kiddos can make a tasty treat to celebrate the end of (hopefully) the craziest year they’ve ever known.

6. A movie night. Let your kids pick the movie, while you make the popcorn (or whatever treat you prefer to consume during a movie). Once school is over, the kids deserve at least ONE night of staying up past their bedtime, right?

7. A family game night. There are SO many games you can play with as a family. You can keep the kids up and let everyone have a chance to choose a game or you can vote on one (or a few) as a family. This is a great bonding time with your kiddos, and creates long-lasting memories and inside jokes that will be shared for years to come.

8. A craft night. Maybe your kids are crafty. Pick up some crafts from a local store (or Amazon- one of my personal faves, which only became more favorable this past year) and let your kids have at it. Like the family game night, this one is bound to create a bond between your family, and give time to create those inside jokes. I love inside jokes, seriously. I also love to do “mom jokes,” but now I’m getting off topic.

9. A weekend getaway. Are you tired of your surroundings? Whether your family has gone out here and there over the past year, or you have just plain old stayed home, you and your kids are probably ready for a change of scenery, even if it’s just for a weekend. Go somewhere close, where things are safe, and just enjoy being OUT OF THE HOUSE (and SCHOOL).

10. A day trip. Many places, like zoos and museums, should be open by now. Do some research on your area, specifically on a place your kids like to visit. It will be special, particularly if you all haven’t been there in a while. Stay safe- but have some fun celebrating! Remember- you and your kids deserve this!

11. A kids’ choice celebration. Maybe you’re not sure what your kids would like to do the most. Why not let them choose? You can either let them come up with some ideas and everyone votes on the group favorite, or you can write down some ideas on paper slips, and choose one that way. Sometimes, there are just too many choices, and creating an easier but fair way to decide can only help you.

In the end, it really doesn’t matter how you celebrate, but just that you do. This year has been so hard in so many ways, you deserve a moment to just do something special with your kids to celebrate making it through. Are we done yet? I really don’t know, but I can hope that things will just keep getting better. Even after they do, a regular school year can be pretty crazy in itself, so you might want to think about celebrating EVERY year! It’s fun for you AND your kids.

Plus, you’re creating those memories that they will be talking about for years to come. Kids need those memories, and they need new memories, so doing any of these activities at any time (maybe even “just because it’s the weekend”) can be part of your family’s routine, if it’s not already. Happy Celebrating!

Have other ways you and your kids celebrate the end of school? Please leave your idea in the comments below- I love to hear your ideas!

Love, Katie M.