It’s back to school time. This year with the 2020 pandemic things are different whether your kids are going in person or virtual. For kids who are learning at home either virtually with their school and homeschooled we want to make sure they feel the importance and excitement of the new school year.
They may feel bummed about missing seeing their friends in person, playing on the sport’s team, homecoming dance, and Friday night football games. They may be starting high school and suddenly in classes with different kids they’ve never met in person. Even more, a reason to do things that we ‘normally’ do as part of back to school.
5 Ways to Make Back to Virtual School Special for Teens
1 – Back to School clothes Back to school shopping has been a tradition. If the kids will learning at home this year, it’s still a good idea to get some new clothes. First, if your teens are like mine, they’ve outgrown their clothes over the summer. We feel better when we’re wearing clothes that we like and make us feel good. Just as its a good practice for those who work from home to get dressed each day, it’s important for teens to do this so they’re in the ready to learn mindset. Staying in PJs all day makes everyone feel like they want to lounge around which is fine for weekends but on school days everyone should get dressed. Teens love to spend all day so don’t encourage it by letting them stay in their sleep clothes.
We headed to the mall and stopped in a few of my son’s favorites shop for back to school shopping a few days before school started. These days that’s Hollister, H&M, and PacSun plus any store that sells Nike or Vans. It’s still hot here in Phoenix for a few more months so we picked out a few t-shirts and shorts (he recently moved up another size in shirts). We’ll wait on the jeans until he goes back to in-person school (if that happens this year) because at that point he may in the next size pants by then.
2 – New school supplies New pens and new notebooks are such a simple thing but bring a little joy to everyone. I always buy myself a few new things when shopping for my son’s school supplies. No school supply list this year which is either because we’re in high school now or if because school is virtual but our kids still need pens and paper to take notes. I found some supplies around the house but I also shopped for a few new items.
3 – Back to School Photos This one has always been done more for mom than the kids but its a ritual they’ve gotten used to. Don’t forget to snap those photos on the first day. Backpacks and shoes may be missing from the photos which will help tell the story when these are put into our scrapbooks (or posted on social media….since I can’t remember the last time I scrapbooked)
4 – Special Back to School Breakfast Since weekdays are usually crazy (even when school is virtual), full homecooked breakfasts including pancakes and eggs are usually left for weekends. Mark the first day of school as a special vacation by making pancakes. Feeling creative? Make the pancakes in the shapes of their initials and numbers for their grade in school. Or go simple, and pick up special donuts. Want to take it up a notch? Donuts in school colors are always a fun treat – check out my tutorial.
5 – Go out for after school ice cream If your shops are open, go out for ice cream after the school day is open (following social distancing recommendation to keep everyone safe). Or order ice cream and some fun toppings for grocery store pickup and make your treats at home.
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