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Online Learning, 5 Ways to Make Back To School Special for Teens

By: dmvollmer

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.

Back to School for High Schoolers

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. 

back to school shopping with teens

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.

Back to School for Teens

 

Virtual Learning, Make Back to Special

 

 

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Hi there and welcome to Sweet Shoppe Mom. My name is Dana and my son is Brendan, also known as B. Welcome to our blog where we chat about every day life with tweens and teens.

more about us

Never to old for some St Patrick’s Day fun ☘️

No lephrecan traps anymore but some leprechan shanigans with green toilet water 🤣 and a basket of green snacks. @luckycharms for breakfast and Thirsty Lion for a yummy dinner of Corned Beef & Cabbage and bread pudding.

We celebrated yesterday because with #coparenting B is at his dads for the rest of the week. If your kids aren’t with you for a holiday, pick your own day to celebrate. The fun and memories are more important than being upset about missing out. 

#lifewithteens #stpatricksday #luckycharms #teenagersareawesome #boymom #thisis16 #arizonamom
I am strong, I am creative ❤️ It’s Girl Scou I am strong, I am creative ❤️ It’s Girl Scout cookie time which also means its time for the Girl Scout Cookie Dessert Challenge and once again the @eatatzuzu have created a masterpiece as this month’s Show Stopper Shake.

Lady Lemon 🍋 blueberry milkshake with a lemon curd drip topped with Girl Scouts Lemon-Ups, a blueberry muffin, lemon ice cream bar, fresh blueberries, lemon chips, white chocolate milk crumb, a Lemon-Ups whipped cream sandwich + lemon candy

$1 of each shake sold will go to Girl Scouts Arizona Cactus-Pine

➡️ vote now in the 2022 Girl Scout Cookie Dessert Challenge. Voting ends February 28 at 11:59 p.m., and you can vote once per day. Voting link: https://www.girlscoutsaz.org/en/cookies/cookie-dessert-challenge.html

#hotelvalleyhomediapartner #hotelvalleyho #zuzu #scottsdale #arizona #girlscoutcookie #lemon
Fabulous performance by @tanzanite_africanacro at Fabulous performance by @tanzanite_africanacro at @themadisoncfa this weekend. Such a fun and entertaining mix of dance, music and amazing acrobatic skills.

We’re excited about the upcoming shows at The Madison - some great ones for families with teens

* 3/10 - @memphisjookin 
* 3/31-4/3 - 25th Anniversary Farewell Tour of @rentonstage 

For more details and tickets 👉 themadison.org

#themadisonmediapartner #themadison #phoenix #phoenixarts #phoenixtheatre #arizona #arizonamoms #momofteens #boymom
Happy Birthday Arizona! 110 years today, Arizona b Happy Birthday Arizona! 110 years today, Arizona became the 48th state.

This still blows my mind how young this state is. Growing up in PA, we focused most of our American history lessons on the 13 original colonies and covered the rest of the country in about 2 weeks so it was all a blur. When AZ was celebrating its 100, I was like what? Really? Only 100 years 

#arizona #phoenix #sedona #flagstaff #grandcanyon #state48
Schlemiel! Schlimazel! Hasenpfeffer Incorporated! Schlemiel! Schlimazel! Hasenpfeffer Incorporated!

Who else grew up watching Laverne & Shirley? The show ran 1976-1983 and I watched the last few years and reruns of course. 

Last weekend Cindy Williams’ show @memyselfandshirley was at the @herbergertheater in downtown Phoenix and it was fabulous! A mix of personal stories and the Laverne & Shirley’s most iconic clips. Me, Myself & Shirley is continuing to tour the rest of the year through the US so if you grew up with the show, you must check it out.

#evolveprpartner #herbergertheater #phoenix #dtwnphx #arizona #laverneandshirley #cindywilliams
That’s a wrap! Final day of 50th Anniversary @ba That’s a wrap! Final day of 50th Anniversary @barrett_jackson Scottsdale Car Auction and the unoffical kickoff to event season with @wmphoenixopen, @thecactusleague spring training, food festivals and so much more as we enjoy the best weather of the year while the rest of the country is covering in ❄️❄️❄️

So many amazing cars from brand new seen before models to old classics. B loved the @chevrolet thrill ride but I hope it didn’t give this new driver any ideas.

More than $8.8 Million was raised in the charity auctions…I’m jealous of the winners of the 2022 @toyotausa Tundra hybrid early production model but it was a little out of my budget. 

⬅️ swip for #flashback to the first Barrett-Jackson car auction we attended in 2017. 

#barrettjackson #scottsdale #momofteens #boymom #carshow #thisis16 #arizona #arizonamom
This kid turned 16th recently 🎂 So proud of the This kid turned 16th recently 🎂 So proud of the young man he is becoming, definitely not a kid anymore. At 5’11 1/2” (not quite 6 ft) he now towers over me and since I’m 5’9” it feels so strange to look up to him now. Parenting in the teen years is so different with my focus guiding him towards independence, maturity and life skills. Preparing him for what’s beyond graduation. 

I’m late to sharing. But we also have spread out his birthday celebrating due to coparenting schedules and his busy teen social liffe. Also we had originally planned his ‘cake’ to follow when we went out to dinner on his birthday eve but we both ate too much and there was no way we could have eaten anymore 🤣 But nothing wrong with keeping the celebration going for a few weeks. 

I offered to make him a fancy cake…I did own a custom cake shop after all, but he requested a chocolate chip cookie skillet instead. Much simpler and less dishes so I’m good with that. 

#thisis16 #momofteens #boymom #arizonamom #arizonateen #birthday #skilletcookie #coparenting #divorcedmom
Celebrating National Popcorn Day with @kethero, lo Celebrating National Popcorn Day with @kethero, locally owned right here in Tempe, AZ #eatlocal. Sooooo kany tasty flavors - which would you choose? Right now I’m quite happy here munching on the Hatch Green Chile Cheddar 

*Hatch Green Chile Cheddar
*Prickly Pear
*Popcorn Zen
*Original Sweet and Salty 
*Aged White Cheddar
*Porcini Truffle Cheddar
*Sea Salted Caramel
*Cinnamon Sugar Churros

#nationalpopcornday #gifted #popcorn #kettlecorn #hatchgreenchile #arizona #tempeaz #azeats #phxeats
Tip - have a few holiday crafts set out on a table Tip - have a few holiday crafts set out on a table. Great when you just need a break. If you can get your teens to join in its a great way to spend some time catching up.

Diamond painting ornament kits from Amazon (link in bio). Inexpensive and super easy, yet fun!, project.

Puzzles and gingerbread houses (get the pre-assembled ones) are great too

#holidaycrafts #diamondpainting #christmas@#christmascrafts #lifewithteens #momofteens #boymom #arizonamom #familycrafts
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