I remember my kids running off the bus with a flyer in their hand outlining Spirit Week at school. They were pumped but I looked at the paper like “ok now we have to go get some hole-free pajamas for pajama day”. From crazy hair to wacky socks, there’s something to remember each day. But to my kids, it’s something to look forward to.

Each day of the week can elicit a different feeling. Monday usually comes with a groan for the start of the new busy week. Wednesday is “hump day!” cause you’re halfway there. And Friday is FriYAY! We made it to the weekend! 

In our house Friday also means family movie night, and poetry tea parties during school. Also sometimes “Fun Friday” where we do special projects and lessons. 

School is looking vastly different for all of us this year, but there’s no reason we can’t spread some of that joy throughout the week. Whether you’re doing school at home, or getting ready for homeroom, little snacks and activities to look forward to during the week can bring some joy to your week. And a little something I’ve noticed with my kids… You don’t need to create some elaborate activity for each day. Sometimes just a cool name for what you’re doing + a “Feel-Good” snack is all you need.

Here are some ideas for fun ways to kick off the start of the school year, paired with Conagra “Feel-Goods” from Walmart!

Journaling New School Year Goals

“Journal with Jel” write down your goals for this school year while snacking on some Fanta Juicy Gel cups. We like to write down our goals and expectations at the beginning of the school year and talk about the things we’d like to improve, skills to develop and subjects we’d like to learn about. 

Discuss the Plan

One thing that without fail, helps us have a more successful day is when I take some time to communicate the plan with everyone. If you spent time setting a schedule and expectations for the school year, it’s a pretty good idea to convey that to your kids too. So they know what time you expect school to be done, what is allowed when schoolwork is completed. If/when screen time is allowed and so on. Set some time aside to have a family meeting about this and sweeten the deal with Duncan Hines Mega Cookie Chocolate Chunk Pan Cookie Mix. If you’re into rhymes like I am you can call it something like  “Planning and Panning” since the cookie mix comes in a cookie cake pan, get it? You can get these and other Conagra “Feel-Goods” from Walmart!

Art Project Kickoff 

Get some creative juices flowing with an arts and crafts hour where you collect supplies from around the house, or break in new school supplies to make an art project. A Duncan Hines Unicorn cake cup is just the colorful treat to include as a snack during the activity, or to enjoy while celebrating and showing off the creations after. 

Read Aloud Storytime

Swiss Miss with Luck Charms Marshmallows – Hot Coco Storytime. Ok it’s still in the triple digits here but it doesn’t keep my daughter from requesting hot chocolate when we get some one-on one time together. Especially when it includes Lucky Charms marshmallows. So choose a new chapter book to read together. A story you and your kids can read and discuss for a while and they’ll look forward to hot coco and story time each chance they get. This year we will be re-reading some classics and finding new ones to enjoy together. 

Documentary Playlist

Open a bag of Angie’s BOOMCHICKAPOP popcorn while you make a playlist of different documentaries you’d like to watch together and learn about this school year. You can add movies about space, ocean life, animals, and history. We like to make playlists in each of our movie apps, and on YouTube. If you want you can even start your first one the same day!

None of these ideas take much planning, and all of them would be fun to schedule to happen some time within the first few weeks of the new school year. It makes the start a little more exciting and a lot sweeter.

Let me know if you give any of these back to school traditions and Conagra “Feel-Goods” from Walmart a try, or have other ideas!

Tags: back to school, homeschool, walmart