Get the kids and all of the families in your neighborhood excited about back to school time with a Back to School party. Hosting a party this time of year among all the back to school hubbub may be the last thing you want to do. But it’s a great way to reconnect and kick off the new school year. Our neighborhood holds an annual back to school party the week or so before school starts and the kids look forward to it every year. Here are a few quick tips and fabulous ideas that will help you pull together a super simple neighborhood Back to School party.
Invitations
We (Moms:) have a quick conversation to determine a date that will work for everyone. It’s not always an easy task with 12 kids involved in a lot of activities. Once the date is determined, the easiest way to send invitations is electronically. You can also find cute paper invites and have the kiddos deliver them to everyone’s door.
Decorations
This is a time to keep it simple. You just need something to mark which house is hosting. A balloon bouquet tied to the mailbox and a banner hung on the garage, can be enough to let everyone know where the party is at. Depending on the type of food you will be serving you may need paper plates, cups, and napkins, and make sure that you have a garbage can or two available for guests.
Food
Remember that this kind of party doesn’t have to be a gourmet event. We actually have everyone bring a pizza and lay them all out on a table. You can eat a slice of your own or one of the others. We also usually serve some kind of dessert. Last year one of the neighbors brought cupcakes, this year we had homemade ice cream. You want to provide grab and go food that’s easy for people to eat standing up or sitting in a lawn chair. To keep it even simpler, everyone also brings their own beverages.
Set Up
There’s not a lot to this party and it can be set-up an hour or so before the guests arrive. You can even enlist the kids to help. The host family will need to provide a couple of tables to set the pizza and ice cream on, make sure that a trash can is handy and you’re ready to go. If you want, you can gather some folding or lawn chairs, or ask everyone to bring them when they come.
Photo-Ops
We get together a few times a year as a neighborhood and it’s always a great occasion to take pictures of the kiddos. A few years back one of the neighbors brought a bunch of fun and goofy photo props. This year I thought it would be fun to make signs with all of the kids’ grades on them. They will be great for individual photos as well as a group shot.
Download PDF: 08.20.15 Back to School Party Printable FREEBIE
What are your tips for a simple neighborhood Back to School Party? Share them with us in the Comments below.
