Find creative and fun back-to-school party ideas to kick off the new school year in style. From decorations to games to snacks, make your celebration unforgettable.
Summer is coming to an end, and school is nearing, but you don’t have to start packing your children’s school bags just yet. End the holidays with a bang with these back-to-school party ideas. Such parties allow your children to have one last hurrah before turning their minds to schoolwork, and they can reconnect with their friends ahead of school. So, read on to discover great ideas for back-to-school parties.
Back-To-School Party Ideas
While you can just invite some of your kid’s friends over, provide some snacks, and leave their own devices as a “back to school part,” there is no doubt adding a theme would truly elevate the experience. Here are some fun back-to-school party ideas that incorporate a theme.
Pool Party
An excellent and refreshing pool party is a great way to close the summer holidays. This back-to-school party idea is great for all ages. You can decorate your pool with banners, inflatable beach balls, and floats. To emphasize the concept of a school party, you can have school-themed decorations such as pool noodles repurposed into giant pencils.
Pajama Party
This is a cozier option for back-to-school party ideas. Decorate your living room with comfy blankets, pillows, and a snack bar with your kids’ favorite sweet and savory treats. You can read books together, watch movies, talk about your favorite summer stories, and play games together during this time. Don’t forget to dress up in your favorite pajamas to make the party successful.
Art Extravaganza
Art is a great way to express the excitement or sadness of saying goodbyes to the holidays and returning to school. So, for this back-to-school party idea, set up a long table in your living room or backyard. Keep crayons, paints, clay, paper, or even recycled materials on it, and allow your kids and their friends to draw their hearts out.
Movie Night
If you’re not in the mood to buy many supplies and make elaborate decorations, this is the back-to-school party idea for you. Set up your living room with blankets and movie snacks such as popcorn, sweets, and juice, and find some family-friendly movies your children will love. You can do this during the day or even turn movie night into a sleepover.
Beach Day
For this back-to-school party idea, collaborate with other parents to get your children together and take them to the beach for the day. This is a great way for both children and parents to relax before the chaos of school takes over your days. You can take beach supplies such as beach balls, buckets, and spades to elevate the fun.
Disco Party
A dance party is a great way to relieve the tension of going back to school. So, take the whole activity further and organize an exciting disco party. For this back-to-school party idea, decorate your space with glitter, disco balls, and flashing lights. Encourage your kids and their friends to dress up in bejeweled costumes. To finish up the theme, play groovy 80s tunes, have a limbo contest, and have disco-themed snacks.
Backyard Campout
Get your children to get their hands dirty with this back-to-school party idea. Pitch up tents, string fairy lights around the backyards, and have a bonfire. They can roast marshmallows and hot dogs and tell spooky stories around the fire. They can even play camp games such as Capture the Flag.
Neon Party
Channel the spirit of a music festival at your very own house and have a neon party. You can create an electrifying atmosphere with this back-to-school party idea by temporarily installing blacklights and neon decorations in your living room. The kids can hold glow sticks, wear neon bracelets, and drink neon-colored mocktails.
BBQ Party
A back-to-school BBQ party idea is a classic way of celebrating the end of the holidays and returning to school. You can invite your kid’s friends and their parents and have a cookout or even a potluck. And at the end of the party, don’t forget to bring out goodie bags of school supplies.
Costume Party
You don’t have to wait until Halloween to dress up in your favorite costumes. With this back-to-school party idea, encourage your children and their friends to dress up however they wish, such as superheroes, Disney characters, or even school-inspired costumes. Make impressions, and you can even have a contest to see who has the best costume.
At-home Carnival
It is common knowledge that carnivals are beloved by children. So, have a carnival party by setting up different game booths and simple games for kids to play and win prizes. Liven up your back-to-school party with decorative masks and balloons. For an extra dose of entertainment, find a balloon animal and face painting vendors for kids to enjoy.
Game Night
For this back-to-school party idea, devote an entire day (or night) to playing classic board and card games such as Uno, Monopoly, Twister, traditional card games, and Twister. This idea is perfect for a small group of friends to play over some light snacks, drinks, and stories about their respective summers.
Back-To-School Party Games
No matter what theme you decide on for your back-to-school party, any gathering of kids is incomplete without some back-to-school party games. Here are the best school-themed games for any back-to-school party idea.
Scavenger Hunt
Scavenger hunts are a great way of fostering a sense of teamwork and competition in children before school starts. For this game, hide some school supplies, books, or other types of prizes around your house before the party begins. Divide all the children into teams and have them find the prizes with the help of riddles and clues.
Relay Race
This is the perfect game for adults and kids alike, but you might need a larger space to play. If you are holding your back-to-school party in a park or any other ample space, have a relay race with teams of both children and their parents. Increase the excitement of the relay race by adding obstacles and challenges.
Time Capsule
The end of summer is often a reminder of how fast time flies, especially when you are a school child. So, for the sake of reminiscing, have the kids at your back-to-school party write a letter to their future selves at the end of the school year. What do they think their future self will learn and be like? Put the letters in a time capsule and have the kids open them on the last day of school.
DIY Crafts
You don’t have to do DIY crafts only at an art-themed back-to-school party. You can set up an art station for any back-to-school party idea and have kids make personalized pencil cases, bookmarks, and other school-themed crafts. It’s a chance to personalize something special and take home a fun reminder of the party.
Dance Games
There are many ways to incorporate dancing into your back-to-school party without making everyone dance together. Add games such as Dancing Statues, Dance Battle, Emoji Dance, and Pass the Dance Move to make your party much more fun and energetic.
Back To School Party Food Ideas
Back-to-school parties would be incomplete with an assortment of foods and sweets to satisfy hungry and excited children. While the options are limitless, here are some common (and uncommon) back-to-school party food ideas to serve at your party.
Cookie Pizza
This back-to-school party food idea is a sweet twist to your regular pizza. Bake a large giant sugar or chocolate chip cookie crust. At the party, have a topping bar where kids can decorate their own slice of cookie with frosting, sprinkles, fruit, and other delicious toppings.
DIY Pizza
Like DIY cookie toppings, have a mini pizza station at your party. Get your kids to put their preferred toppings, such as cheese, meat, sauces, and vegetables, early in the party. Then, pop the mini pizzas in the oven to eat later on.
Ice Cream/ Popsicles
Any summer party would be incomplete without some ice cream to provide some refreshment during the hot day. You can have a sundae bar with various ice cream flavors and toppings like chocolate sauce, whipped cream, sprinkles, and chopped nuts. Or you can make popsicles that match the theme of your party to serve at the party.
Hot Dogs
Hot dogs are a classic option for back-to-school party food ideas. To make way for all the other snacks you’re going to serve at the back-to-school party, you can serve mini-hot dogs and sliders that everyone can enjoy.
Cupcakes
Cupcakes are great back-to-school party food ideas as they are easy to dress up according to the party theme. Decorate your cupcakes with toppers, lettering, and fun combos of frosting colors.
DIY Toast
Toast is not as basic as one assumes when it comes to back-to-school party food ideas. For parties like sleepovers and art parties, you can set a small table with various toppings like avocado, cheese, deli meats, and spreads so that your tiny partygoers can build their own toasts as they like.
Chili and Lime Roasted Cashews
This is a great food idea for movie nights if you want something other than popcorn. Chili and lime cashews have a spicy kick and a refreshing tang that leaves you wanting more. Of course, this back-to-school party food idea is best suited for older kids or adults waiting for their children.
Mini Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese
Parties such as slumber and pajamas often require comfort foods. These mini versions of the classic tomato soup and grilled cheese combo are a great way to keep the party going while eating a generally cozy meal.
Fruit Salad
This is a great dessert to follow up after a heavy meal of fried foods or other party snacks. By combining refreshing fruits like pineapple, strawberries, apples, oranges, watermelons, and other favorite fruits, you can satisfy your sweet cravings without a sugar overload. If you think premade salads are risky, make a fruit platter or charcuterie board so your kids can hand-pick their favorites.
Veggie Fries
Be inclusive of vegan kids and children who like vegetables and make vegetable fries. It is easy to batter, fry, and serve with a few dips from carrots, potatoes, cauliflower, and even tofu. And what’s more, they have their own unique flavor that even meat lovers would like.
Final Thoughts
So there you have it! From epic games to delicious treats, you’re now equipped to throw a back-to-school party that celebrates the end of summer and the excitement of a new year. Remember, the most essential ingredient is fun! With these back-to-school party ideas, get creative, personalize the activities, and let your children have the times of their lives.
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