The last day of school is an important milestone, and the official kick off to the “lazy days of Summer”. It’s definitely a day worthy of celebrating.
Kids spend a great deal of time with their teachers and classmates, so it is nice to bring little gifts to say “goodbye”. When my kids were little, they always brought little trinkets with cute gift tags on the last day of school.
For example: reusable straws pair well with “Sip Sip hooray… it’s our last day!” tags and Freezies can be gifted with “Have a cool summer!” tags.
Gifts for teachers are important too. As the daughter of a teacher, I can tell you that handwritten notes from parents and students are very much appreciated. Gift cards and handmade (useable) gifts are wonderful too. I love the idea of sharing a mason jar filled with layered cookie ingredients. Then, to make it extra special, you can add a tag that says, “A SWEET treat for a SWEET teacher!”
I’m a big believer that traditions and rituals are the cornerstones of childhood memories, and my favourite tradition on the last day of school is having kids run through a “finish line”.
I started creating finish lines for my kids when they were in Preschool, and I’m still doing it. I use a roll of paper, decorate it with markers, and tape the ends to the sides of the entrance to my house.
It’s also fun having a delicious treat to celebrate after school pick up. Going for ice cream is wonderful, but setting up a “smart cookie” bar is a delicious alternative. When my oldest graduated from high school, I made a tier tray (from dollar store plates) that looked like it was topped with a graduation hat. It was an adorable way to display cookies.
Another great idea is to create a “Summer Checklist”, print it out, and hang it on the fridge. It’s a great blueprint for summer fun, and no one can say they’re bored when they have a list of adventures.
When my kids were younger, we chose 50 quick and easy bucket list items, but now that they are older, we focus on a few special activities.
Examples to consider adding to your list are:
- do something good for someone else
- buy a meal from a food truck and eat outside
- visit a beach or pool
- cook on a campfire
- plan a theme day
- have an outdoor movie night
- plan a one-on-one date with a parent
- do something creative
- go on a road trip.
Enjoy the last day of school, celebrate the memories made, and get ready for all the little moments that make summer magical.
