Five Ways to Celebrate the Last Day of School

Over the last decade of mom-life and child psychologist-life, we have found that on the last day of school children tend to fall into one of two camps:

1. They are insanely excited for summer. As soon as the bell rings, they will burst through the double glass doors, arms wide, hearts open, a trail of old papers and school supplies floating in their wake.
2. They are dreading the transition to summer. When you go to pick them up, you may find them huddled with their friends near the flagpole, hugging, crying, and fearing the loss of routine and friendship.

No matter how they react to the last day of school know that: it’s probably pretty normal. Many kids NEED a change of pace and a break from routine. Other kids NEED consistency to feel safe and secure.

Whether your child is excited or dreading summer, it’s helpful to make that last day of school something to be celebrated. Here are five easy ways to celebrate that last day of school. If your child is the "totally excited for summer" kid, surprise them with these activities! If your kid is the "mourning the last day of school" kid, tell them some of these activities in advance. That way, they have something to look forward to.

1. Have “School’s Out” by Alice Cooper queued up in the car. This is a fun way to instantly get them in a summer mindset.

 2. Have the movie “Frozen” cued to: 49:10. This is right before Olaf belts out “In Summeerrrrrrrrrr!” When your kid walks in the door, hit “play” and enjoy the giggles.

 3. Have a water balloon or Nerf war battle set up. Have two different “battle stations” set up, one for parents and one for kids. When a parent blows the whistle, the battle is on! You can also set this up in a “capture the flag” game as well.

 4. Have a “Make your own ice cream sunday” station. Set out different flavors of ice cream and different toppings, and let your kids create their own masterpieces.

 5. Let your child open a “pen pal survival kit.” Include stationary, pens, markers, stickers, stamps, and addresses for their closest school friends. Let them practice the art of (no technology required) correspondence over the summer!

Are you at all worried about how YOU will survive the summer? Download our free guide: Parents' Summer Survival Guide. In this guide, you will learn:

1. Three different ways to schedule your summer days to stay sane
2. How to keep your kids from turning into screen-time zombies
3. Ten easy ways to banish boredom!

In our Parenting 101 course, we also cover the concept of transitions, and how to easily and swiftly address behaviors related to the anxiety and dread of transitions. In our course, you'll learn how to: manage tantrums, sassy attitudes, sibling fighting, and non-compliance. All while connecting with your child and teaching them valuable skills that will improve behavior! If you haven't already, check out the free video from our course, "Love, Like, Enjoy" here:  Watch Free Video from Course

Stay Sane this Summer!

-Dr. Erin and Dr. Jordana