What’s on your checklist for the days leading up to the start of a new school year? Go to bed early, get haircuts, get school supplies ready… Kids typically aren’t too keen on any of that stuff. What if you added “play back-to-school game” to your list?
Creating fun traditions helps bring your family closer together, and a simple one like back-to-school games tells your kids you like spending time with them. Here are two of my favorites.
1. Mom and Dad School Memories Game
Come up with memories from your own school days. For example, third grade was my favorite grade because of my great teacher. I broke my arm on the playground in fifth grade. I learned cursive writing in third grade. My best friend in second grade was from Japan. Write each one on a separate slip of paper.
Have your children take turns reading them aloud and let them guess whose memory it is, Mom’s or Dad’s.
2. It’s a Numbers Game
Before dinner, sneak away from the kids long enough to cut out small squares of paper and number them from one to ten. Tape the individual numbers under their plates, the bottoms of their drinking glasses, under their chairs—get creative. When it’s time to play the game, have them find a number. When they find a number, have them complete the corresponding question or fill in the blank:
- What are you most looking forward to on the first day of school?
- What two things did you like most about last school year?
- Who have been your three favorite teachers or adults at school?
- What are your four favorite school lunches?
- Name five things you don’t ever want to have for lunch.
- Name six new things you learned last year.
- What class subject would you love to have seven days a week?
- Should school be eight hours long each day? Longer? Shorter? Why?
- Do you think we can be on time to school nine days in a row?
- Give Mom and Dad a 10-second hug now!
What fun back-to-school traditions do you have in your family? Do you know of any back-to-school games?
