Back-to-School Bash

BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT DINNER:

Decorate the table with black butcher paper (you can get this from an office supply store) and sprinkle with alphabet cereal.  You can decorate further by writing different math problems in chalk on the black paper. 

You could serve alphabet soup with rolls shaped like different letters. 

Use school cafeteria trays or something similar.  Make everyone stand in a line and they pick up their silverware, napkins, drinks one at a time.  You could even serve the hot/main dish and don't forget your apron and rubber gloves...just like those lunch ladies. 

ACTIVITIES:

Modesty - Using old newspapers and magazines have your children cut out pictures of people that are modest.  Have them draw stick figures on paper and use the clothing, hats, accessories from the magazines to decorate their people.  Modesty is always in fashion.

Quick is the key - Using alphabet soup pasta or cereal, have each team draw five to ten letters (five for older kids and ten for younger).  In a set amount of time, see how many words they can spell.  Each round you draw new letters.

  Dissect a peach - Each person/team must carefully cut their peach open, remove the pit, and then sew the peach back together with a needle and thread.  The team that has done the best job wins!

Ready to go! - The first day of school can be really crazy.  Why not make it a tradition that the children themselves make their first lunch??  Sounds good to me!  One less thing to worry about.  So, the night before school starts, have them make their own sack lunch.  You could have them decorate the sack.  Then put the lunch together.  The sandwich (for extra fun, cut out the middle of the sandwich with apple or  bus cookie cutter, or the first letter of child's name, etc.  If you don't have a cookie cutter, just use a knife).  You can have them use small cookie cutters and cut out cheese in shapes of hearts, circles, etc.  Make alphabet cookies and have them frost and decorate one.  Some other good sack lunch items: box of raisins, apple juice box, chips, celery with peanut butter, crackers, pudding cup, or cut up fruits and vegetables.  A really fun lunch idea is to make a pancake sandwich.  Just put peanut butter and jelly between two pancakes...or you could just put jam in between.  Makes a quick and easy breakfast too.

SAFETY REVIEW:

Back to School Safety Tips from CBS News - Some good things to remember
School and Bike Safety
Kid's Domain - This site gives helps on Parenting your Child online, chat rules, e-mail tips, filtering and gives helpful links.

ON A SPIRITUAL NOTE:

Have your children receive a priesthood blessing for the new school year.  If you are a single parent mom, have your home teacher, bishop, grandpa or other male family priesthood holder give your child a blessing.  I grew up in a situation like this and I learned from my mom just how important a priesthood blessing was to her because she made sure I had one each school year.  Great teaching opportunity, even if school has already started.