5 ways to Celebrate the End of School!

We did it, y’all. We made it through another school year! Whether your kids are in public school, private, homeschool or just preschool it’s a treat to celebrate the end of the school year with your kiddos. They’ve worked hard and so have you–if you’re burnt out on ideas, I’ve got you covered with five of my favorite ways to celebrate the end of school.

• Last day of school Sweet Treat
  • This one has been a tradition in our family since my girls started school. In our district, the last day is a half day. My kids know that on that final pick up they won’t be going home but to their favorite fro-yo place!
    • Our tradition is fro-yo (we also do this the night before the first day of school), but you can choose your family’s favorite location for a tasty treat. Ice cream parlors, boba tea shops, or Crumbl cookies are all great options.
    • We don’t dine out often so this is a special treat, but if you prefer you can dine in! Stop at the grocery store before pickup and buy those special frozen treats (or cupcakes!) your kids are always begging for. The end of a school year is reason to celebrate! #treatyoself
    • If you want some more hands-on family fun, you can make an afternoon of making ice cream together!

• Create Personalized Awards or Certificates:
  • This one is really a bonus to use during whichever celebration you choose!
  • Recognize your children’s achievements, efforts, and hard work with this fill in the blank certificate printable!
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  • Paste a photo of your child on the certificate and fill it in. You don’t have to stick with academics here, there are so many important qualities our kiddos hold! Here are a few suggestions:
    • Best Problem Solver
    • Greatest Math Whiz
    • Spelling Bee Champion
    • King/Queen of the Library
    • Hardest Working
    • Most Creative Thinker
    • Kindest Classmate Ever
  • Now gather your certificates and have a mini award ceremony! During your celebration, save a few moments to give out your awards. Don’t be afraid to do this at the ice cream shop–you might inspire another family to start the tradition!

• Create a School Year Memory Collection
  • Our kids make so many precious things throughout the year-we don’t need to drown in them, but we can save our favorites (and theirs!)
    • Sit together with your child and tackle that giant paper bag they’ve been sent home with, stuffed to the brim with the year’s labor. This is a great chance to connect! Tell them your favorites, ask questions, and hear their funny memories of the year past.
    • I credit my daughters’ 1st grade teacher with this suggestion: use a pizza box! Order pizza for the occasion and ask the Pizzeria if you can have a clean, empty box. You can store quite a bit in the box and decorate the front to say “Pieces of my Year”. We keep our pizza boxes stacked in the top of their closet and they still enjoy looking through them.
    • Fill the box with the most precious memories, moments, art and stories of the year. It’s something for both you and your child to look back on and enjoy.
    • If you can’t find a pizza box, or simply want something a little more compact, using file folders is a great way to save your child’s schoolwork memories. Create a hanging file for each child, each year. Easy to look through!
    • Want to eliminate paper clutter? While I personally enjoy keeping physical copies of report cards, artwork and stories you may not–and that’s ok! Snap a photo of the ones you love or run them through your scanner and create a digital memory album.

• Host a Backyard or Park Playdate
  • An end of the year playdate is a great way to celebrate the start of summer with friends before everyone is swept off into summer camps and family travels.
    • We have a large courtyard in front of our Townhome. The year after that illness we rented a blow up jump house for all the kids in the court to celebrate the beginning of summer!
    • If you don’t have a hosting space, try a meet up at a local park or playground
    • It can be as simple or as elaborate as you like–its up to YOU. Everyone is tired by this point in the year, there is no need to go all out unless it brings you joy. The kids will be thrilled just to have a play date!
    • This summer we will be attending an end of year bash hosted by a mother in a local facebook group. It’s at a playground and it’s pot luck style! Bring snacks to share and your own drinks, but the most important thing is to bring yourselves. The kids WILL have fun running around and hopefully us moms will get some time in to chat.
    • If you want a little more structure, play some tried and true summer games like pillow case races or flag tag, and bring a bubble machine and chalk for the littlest ones to stay busy.

• Popcorn Party Movie Night
  • Another family favorite: popcorn parties! Turn off the lights and pretend the big screen has come to your living room.
    • Jazz up your family movie night by setting the mood like a movie theater. I serve my kids popcorn in reusable popcorn containers I got from Target, a pack of gummy bears, and a cup of orange soda (remember, it’s treat time!).
    • Pick a new-to-your-family movie or go with an old favorite that you haven’t watched in a while. There are so many great kids movies now that are truly enjoyable for kids of all ages, including you
    • Possibly the most important thing…put your phone AWAY. We aren’t really watching a movie with our kids if we’re scrolling IG. Trust me, they notice and they will appreciate that this activity with them has your full attention. If you struggle with this, leave your phone in another room.

I hope this post has helped you find some easy ways to start a new end of school year tradition with your family. You all deserve it!

Download your free End of School Year Award printable below. You’ll receive an e-mail with access to this free printable and more!