Last year, I decided to have a back-to-school feast for my kids. It wasn’t much work at all, and they loved it.
I let them choose their favorite foods, and my husband read a funny family newsletter he created, followed by a prayer asking that their year be blessed with safety, learning, and friendship. I also played these 2 themed back to school games.
Mom and Dad School Memories Game
- Come up with memories from your own school days (For example, “Third grade was my favorite grade because of my great teacher. I broke my arm on the playground in fifth grade. I learned cursive writing in third grade. My best friend in second grade was from Japan.”) and write each one on a separate slip of paper.
- Have your children take turns reading them aloud and let them guess whose memory it is, Mom’s or Dad’s.
Numbers Game
- Before your dinner starts, sneak away from the kids long enough to cut out small squares of paper and number them from one to ten.
- Tape the individual numbers under their plates, the bottoms of their drinking glasses, under their chairs, etc.
- When it’s time to play the game, have them find a number. You can direct them to their location.
- When they say the number, have them complete the corresponding question or fill in the blank:
- What are you most looking forward to on the first day of school?
- What two things did you like most about last school year?
- Who have been your three favorite teachers or adults at school?
- What are your four favorite school lunches?
- Name five things you don’t ever want to have for lunch.
- Name six new things you learned last year.
- What class subject would you love to have seven days a week?
- Should school be eight hours long each day? Longer? Shorter? Why?
- Do you think we can be on time to school nine days in a row?
- Give mom and dad ten hugs – right now!
What games does your family play when the back-to-school season comes?
