Part of raising children and enjoying a family is learning to make memories together and find opportunities to do so even with the small and simple celebrations that come each day.

Now that the new school year is approaching for many families with children, what a terrific opportunity to celebrate your children, say goodbye to summer, make some fun memories and start off the new school year on a positive note.

Why not purchase a new cork bulletin board (or clean up an old one) and spend an afternoon, as a family, decorating it for the “back to school” season. Add some festive borders with construction paper, some fun cartoon cut-outs and a place to pin graded homework papers or other school work your children will be bringing home each week. Hang your bulletin board in a prominent place within the home (perhaps a hallway) and update the decorations, as a family, with each approaching season.

How about taking a first-day photo of your children heading off to school, catching a ride on the bus or as they are waking up and filtering out of bed. These can be displayed on your new bulletin board. Transfer the photos and other memorabilia to a special “This Year in School” scrapbook as new pictures and school related items are gathered throughout the year.

What about making a welcome-home tray of cupcakes and hanging banners and balloons in the dining room when your children return home from their first day of school? Or host a back-to-school party for your children and have them invite their new school friends?

Another thoughtful way to send your children into a new school year is to purchase a special gift to hide in their book bag, lunchbox or to tuck under their pillow to find when they come home that night. Write a special note to let your child know you are thinking of him.

Although home school families will want to modify some of these ideas, these should still provide some inspiration for the many things you can do to make a fun back-to-school memory.

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Tags: back to school, making memories