8 Fun Ways to Celebrate the End of the School Year

Posted on 14. Apr, 2009 by TheCuteKid Photo Contest in Parenting, Tweens

Read about eight fun ways to celebrate the end of the school year, and the start of summer break.

8 Fun Ways to Celebrate the End of the School Year

Kick off the summer break with a bang!

By Mary Fetzer

School is hard work. Kids get up early every morning to catch the bus or walk to school. They spend their afternoons in extracurricular activities and their evenings on homework. Summer break – and the freedom it brings – is definitely something to celebrate.

So how can you make the best of this fun time of the year?  Here are eight great ways to jumpstart your summer vacation…

1 – Commemorate the Season

Do something special – a picnic, a movie, a shopping spree, a ball game – to signify that the school year is over, and make it an annual event. One mom told us that she always took her kids swimming after their last class of the year. Always their first swim of the season, it truly marked the beginning of summer for them.

2 – Make a Plan
At the start of the break (or before, if possible), make a calendar of what you hope to do over the summer – all of the things you didn’t have time to do during the hustle and bustle of the school year. Keep it light and fun and, most importantly, don’t over schedule. Having your plan in writing gives you a better chance of sticking to it. But, it is summer after all, so if you skip a couple of those calendar events, who cares?

3 – Learn Something

School’s not in session, but that doesn’t mean the learning has to stop. We’re not talking about summer school, but it’s a great time to indulge kids in what they want to learn. Look into day camps that feature his or her new interest. The additional free time summer offers allows children to immerse themselves wholeheartedly into a new hobby without spelling tests looming over their heads.

4 – Go Somewhere

Millions of students and their families will travel to beaches and parks for summer break. Others will take educational trips, touring historic landmarks or cultural areas. Hit our nation’s capital and make friends with the three pandas at the National Zoo. A change of scenery is always helpful – whether it’s your one big trip for the summer or a one-day jaunt to a nearby tourist attraction, it’ll do the whole family good.

5 – Take in the Great Outdoors

What a feeling to be on the outside of those institutional walls … fresh air, green grass, sunshine. It’s healthy for children to be outside – they get Vitamin D from the sun, and some experts suggest that more contact with greenery and grass will lessen hyperactivity symptoms. And of course kids are generally more active when they’re outside, a plus in this childhood-obesity-conscious society. Limit electronic usage to an hour (or less!) per day, and don’t be tempted to use the gadgets as “babysitters.” If your child gets bored with unstructured outside time, sign him up for a day camp or a sport.

6 – Get Healthy

I was mortified to find out that in our school’s cafeteria, kids can opt to eat chicken nuggets every day. It’s not necessarily any better if your kid packs a lunch – trading food is apparently a popular lunchroom pastime. Fruits and vegetables and good food are abundant in the summer. Day one of summer vacation is the time to get kids on a three-squares-a-day schedule: no more no-time-for-breakfast morning rush, or who-knows-what-they-ate-today school lunch, or let’s-just-drive-through-McDonald’s for supper on the way to softball. Your kids will be amazed by how much energy they get from a proper diet – and you just might eat better, too!

7 – Pitch a Tent

There is nothing like the smell of a real campfire, complete with roasted marshmallows, s’mores, and mountain pies. If you have a back yard, set up a tent and sleep outside! If you don’t, then pitch the tent inside and use a fondue pot for your camping treats. Go on a scavenger hunt by day, tell ghost stories by night. No matter where you live, your kids can experience a camping adventure to ring in the summer.

8 – Read

It’s important to read to your child for at least 15 minutes a day. Reading is not just a school subject; kids should be reading every day, year round. Fun reading opportunities abound in the summer – read the comics and teen mags that were off limits during homework time; dig into a new novel on the beach, by the pool, or in the car; make a game of reading billboards and bumper stickers on a road trip.

No matter what you do to mark the occasion, do it together. Praise your kids for finishing another school year and reward them with a fun-filled and relaxing summer. Make a tradition, and make a memory.

Does your family have an end-of-school tradition?

Get your cutie started in the entertainment business. The CuteKid™ is the internet’s largest and most respected child & baby photo contest. Join the fastest growing community of industry pros and parents like you! Your Cutie Pie into Baby Modeling.

It’s FREE to become a member and reap the rewards.

Do You Have a CuteKid™? Join today.

Tags: End of School, Family Summer, Family Summer Vacation, Kids Summer Time Fun, parent advice, parent center, Parenting, Summer Vacation