Fun & Simple Last Day of School Traditions To Start With Your Kids!
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Looking for some simple last day of school traditions to start with your kiddos? I’ve got you!
Hi friends,
If your family is anything like mine, the last day of school is a giant mix of chaos, excitement and exhaustion (from the parents). I get it, it’s not just the last day.. its all the days leading up to the last day too 😅
You want to celebrate with your kiddos but don’t really want to add too much more to your plate either. I’ve got you!
Here are a few simple but still totally fun last day of school traditions to start doing with your kiddos to celebrate everything they (and you, mom) have done all year!
This post is all about fun last day of school traditions
Last day of school traditions
1. Special breakfast or lunch
Start the day off right with a fun breakfast or a breakfast you don’t often allow.
You’ve probably seen some of these insane set ups influencers do on instagram and TikTok, but fear not! A fun breakfast doesn’t have to include an elaborate set up or anything fancy!
Consider making a fun breakfast like cinnamon rolls, waffles with the works or special confetti muffins. My kids are pretty set if I include whipped cream with any breakfast so.. maybe try that lol
Another option would be to set your alarm a little early and head out for a quick bite. Personally, I love sleep and won’t sacrifice that for a restaurant but swinging through a fast food joint or donut shop is something I could manage.
No time for breakfast in the morning? I’ve got you!
Send in a special treat in their lunchbox like freeze dried astronaut ice cream or something else unique or fun!
You could also send in a cute little lunch note saying “This summer lets..” and list off a few fun ideas they can look forward to over summer break. Another option is to “decorate” their lunch box with summer stickers, mini balloons, confetti, etc.
Either way, any meal on the last of the school is gonna be bomb and taste like summer! 🌞
2. Take last day of school pictures
Last day of school photos are my favorite! Hands down!
If you took a first day of school photo, be sure to start taking last day of school photos too because the difference is always insane. You’ll probably shed a tear or two lol
Aside from the normal last day of school photos, get creative & have fun!
Here are a few fun last day of school photo ideas:
3. Reflect on the school year
They say the only time you should look back is to celebrate how far you’ve come!
The end of the school year is the perfect time to do some reflecting on everything your kiddo has done, dealt with, gotten through, learned and accomplished! 😮💨
One way to reflect on the year and see how much they’ve changed is by having them fill out “first/last day questionnaires” that lets you see how their interests and feelings have changed over the school year.
Grab our free first and last day of school questionnaires at the link above. It’s always fun to see how the answers change!
These also make the perfect keepsake to add to a time capsule!
Another fun idea is to make a time capsule that sums up a few highlights from this past school year. I’m sure you have a mini (or not so mini) stack of your kids school work you’ve been saving throughout the year. Why not put it to use?
{Related Post: Best Ways to Store & Organize Your Kids School Papers)
You can include the questionnaire above, the final report card, a couple art pieces or tests and maybe even a letter to their future selves!
4. Say goodbye to the school year
Create a fun way to say “goodbye” to the past school year!
I remember in middle school, on the last day of school, they would let all the kids throw paper. Thinking back now, maybe they didn’t “let” us, but we sure did it lol
While I don’t recommend telling your kids to throw their papers at school, a fun alternative option is to have a last day of school bon fire where you burn last years papers and kick off summer!
Another one my kids love is when we draw on the car windows!
Write “goodbye __th grade” or “incoming __ grader!” and other fun messages like “Honk! Schools out for summer!” on the car for morning drop off or afternoon pick up.
I think the messages that ask people to honk are my favorite – the kids always get a kick out of it lol
5. Have a special after school treat
When the last bell rings, school is officially out and summer is officially in!
Since by the time you pick up your kids they’re already on summer break, why not start the fun early?
Here a few after school treat ideas:
Any way you decide to have a little together-time and get a taste of the summer ahead is a solid choice!
6. Celebrate the friends they’ve made
As a parent, It’s always interesting to see how our kids friends evolve and change over the years. Chances are there’s a new group of buds than there was last year!
Before we move on and meet new friends next year, is important to celebrate and remember the ones we’ve made this year!
A great way to help your kiddo stay social over the summer is by keeping in touch with last years friends. Thats where summer contact cards are super helpful!
Of course we can’t forget signatures either!
I think everyone has fond memories of walking around school with your yearbook trying to get as many people and friends to sign it as you possibly could.
With the increasing costs of things, I’ve noticed not as many parents purchase yearbooks nowadays. Completely understandable!
Consider buying a signature book (and maybe a disposable camera?) for your kiddo to take to school and collect signatures in from their teachers and friends!
Or, if your kiddo is a super social butterfly, hosting a mini “summer kick off” party for a few of their friends would likely earn you the “best mom ever” badge!
We did this one year in the backyard and it was tons of fun. We set up a tent out back, had some water balloons, hot dogs, lit a fire and just hung out!
7. Plan the summer ahead
Enough school talk, we’re on summer mode! 😎
Make a new tradition where you plan out the summer ahead on the last day of school.
One fun idea is to create a summer mood board. Gather some old magazines, scissors, glue and pick up a poster board at Dollar Tree!
Have your kiddos cut out different summer-themed items from the magazine and glue them down. Tell them to cut out anything that reminds them of summer, things they want to do this summer, summer colors, cute outfits, etc. Get creative!
Another option would be to sit together and brain storm a bunch of summer bucket list ideas!
I’ve seen tons of people make adorable bucket list posters on TikTok and Pinterest! Such a fun way to start dreaming up the perfect summer and a smart way to get some ideas of things to do for when the kids inevitably start going “mom! we’re bored!” lol
Celebrating the last day of school is likely a core memory for many of us. These last day of school traditions are simple but fun ways to make long lasting childhood memories for your kiddos too!
Do you have any last day of school traditions you grew up with? Let me know them in the comments below, I’d love to hear! 🙂
