Every year before school, my mom threw me a back-to-school party, and I would have a few of my friends over for a sleepover before school started. It was like our last party before classes, schedules, and dreaded homework returned to haunt us.
It happens every year. The kids are out of school and summer is in full swing. Pool parties, fun activities, and relaxation are at the top of the list for those lazy days. Then, before you know it, it’s time for back to school. This also means that your kids may not see their friends as much because of being in different classes and going in different directions after school.
Every year before school, my mom threw me a back-to-school party, and I would have a few of my friends over for a sleepover before school started. It was like our last party before classes, schedules, and dreaded homework returned to haunt us.
Have you thought about throwing a back-to-school party for your kids? Here are some ideas to help you figure out what the perfect back-to-school bash would be:
Indoor Party Ideas
We all know the weather can be fickle, and as soon as you plan something, it rains on your parade. No worries! Here are some ideas for some indoor parties that your kids will love:
1. The Traditional Sleepover- Gather your kids' friends for a night of food, movies, or video games. Prepare for lots of chatter, and very little sleep.
2. Pizza Party- You can do this two different ways. If you find a fantastic deal on pizza from your favorite pizza place and order out. You can also make several homemade pizzas as a more economical solution. Besides, the kiddos might love creating their own pizzas with all the toppings.
3. Movie Marathon- You can either choose a kids' movie franchise they love or have everyone bring their favorite movie to watch.
4. Go Bowling- See if your local bowling alley has any specials or discounted rates for groups and have a bowling party.
5. Attend a Movie Matinee- Invite your kids' friends to a movie on the big screen. Research your local theater and see if they offer discounted movie matinees or showings for kids only (with parental supervision).
6. Go Rollerskating- If you have a roller skating rink nearby, take the kids for some old-fashioned skating fun.
7. Book Party- Decorate with a book theme and have guests bring books they don’t want anymore to exchange. Give out bookmarks as party favors and serve cake and ice cream.
8. Ice Cream Sundae Party- Get an array of ice cream flavors and toppings and let the fun begin.
9. Craft Party- If your kids love to craft, look up a few back-to-school crafts like toppers for pencil erasers, homemade book covers, etc. Serve light snacks, cake, and ice cream.
10. Superhero Party- Decorate the party space with superheroes and watch superhero movies. You could even look up some superhero-inspired games to play. Serve cake and drinks on superhero paper plates. If there is someone nearby who dresses up like a superhero, consider hiring them to make an appearance.
11. Science Fair Party- Gather supplies to make a few DIY science experiments.
12. T-shirt Party- Have everyone bring a t-shirt to decorate in various ways. Kids can either tie-dye, decorate with craft paint, or add beads and sparkly things with a Bedazzler if you have one on hand.
13. Makeup/Nail Party- This is a great idea for teenage girls. Have each girl bring their own makeup and two shades of nail polish. Then they can spend the evening doing each other’s makeup and nails. For an extra special touch, you could call your local cosmetology school and see if any of the students would like to join you for a small fee to hone their skills.
14. Dance Party- Crank up the tunes and dance the day or night away. Pick a decade and have the kids dress like that decade. Serve party snacks that were popular back then.
15. PG-Themed Murder Mystery Party- Plan a PG-themed murder mystery dinner party. This is a great idea for teens. They will love trying to figure out who did it.
16. Games Party- Have everyone bring their favorite board or video game and let the competition begin.
Outdoor Party/Event Ideas
Pool Party- Have one last epic pool party bash.
Back-to-School Picnic- Invite your kids' friends to the local park and have them bring a kid-approved dish to share. Or if you have a small group, make brown bag lunches and spend some time playing and socializing at the park.
Scavenger Hunt- Set up a school scavenger hunt in your backyard. Kids will love following the clues to find things.
Back-to-School BBQ- Host a back-to-school barbeque at your home. Let parents know you will provide the meat and drinks and ask them to bring a side or dessert.
Camping Party- Invite your kids' friends over for a night of camping in your backyard. Don’t forget the hot dogs and s’mores.
Chalk Party- This is a great idea if you have a large driveway or lots of sidewalks at your home. Give the kids a box of chalk and let them create to their heart's content. Make sure you block off the entrance to the driveway so no one can park.
Games Party- Break out the outdoor games like badminton, corn hole, trampoline, dodgeball, jumping rope, frisbee, etc.
Miniature Golf Course- Take your kids and a small group of friends to play miniature golf and then go back to your house for ice cream afterward.
Water Party- Have a last-splash bash and let kids play with water balloons, run through sprinklers, and shoot water guns.
Go-Karts- Take the kids to ride go-karts.
Drive-In Movie- If you have a drive-in nearby, ask your kids, friends, and their parents to meet you and enjoy a movie together.
Bike Party- Have everyone meet at the park with their bikes and a dish to share. Then enjoy your ride together and have a pleasant lunch or dinner afterward. You will want to make sure you invite the parents to help you monitor everyone and keep track of everyone’s bikes.
Movie in the Park- Some communities have outdoor movies in the park. If your community offers this, have your kids' friends and their parents meet you to enjoy a movie under the stars.
Beach Party- If you have a beach near your home, either natural or manmade, invite your kids' friends and have a back-to-school beach party bash. Kids will have a blast building sandcastles and playing in the waves. You can even crank up beach-themed tunes on your phone. When the fun in the sun is through, invite everyone back to your place for a simple meal like hotdogs, hamburgers, chips, and drinks.
Tips to Make Parties Go Smoothly
-Send out invites early and have a hard date set for RSVPs.
-If you are serving food, once you have a head count, make sure you go shopping early and order the cake early. This way, you will have a little wiggle room if you need to buy more food or order a larger or smaller cake.
-Make sure you have other parents to help. You can’t monitor everyone all the time. Plus, several extra pairs of hands are always wonderful.
-Make sure other parents know what to expect. If you’re providing food after an event, like going to a movie matinee, make sure they know they will have to pay for tickets for their children. If you expect them to bring a dish to share for everyone to eat, let them know. This way, there will be no surprises.
-Most of all, have fun! There is no such thing as a “perfect” party, and something will go wrong. But make the most of it and enjoy yourself and the children.
There are all kinds of things you can do for a back-to-school party. Take some time and decide what you want to do, then make this back-to-school bash the best!
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Skynesher
