In my home, nothing sparks a chorus of groans louder than hearing the following three words: Back to school.
Of course, returning to class doesn’t have to be wrought with tears, fears and jeers. With a little creativity you can turn the worst part of the year into one of the best.
Here are some ideas on how to make it happen:
Movie Night: This is a great way to motivate your child to study hard in school without constantly being nagged. A few days before the new school year gets underway, clean a large empty jar and place it next to a container of raw popcorn kernels. Next, sit down with your child and create a list of goals he wants to achieve during the academic year. For example, reading 30 minutes per night, completing homework on time, or remembering to empty his backpack when he gets home from school in the afternoon. Keep the goals realistic and don’t make the list too long. It’s better to stay focused on a few goals rather than trying to come up with a year’s worth of challenges that may be tough to attain. Each time your child accomplishes one of the goals from his list have him add a tablespoon of popcorn kernels to the empty jar. When the jar is filled, treat your child to a movie night complete with snacks and his favorite beverage to celebrate his accomplishments.
Bake Binder Paper: Now that you know how to create a ruler cake and one that resembles a chalkboard, consider making edible binder paper. You can make a simple sheet cake into lined paper by covering it with white fondant or buttercream. Next, use a ruler and toothpick to lightly draw evenly spaced lines on the buttercream, and then trace over them using light blue frosting. Once you have the horizontal lines done, add a pink vertical line on the left side of the cake. To finish off the sweet back-to-school treat, pipe a message in the center, such as: “Star Student” or “School Rocks”. You could also add a bright yellow star or draw a pencil on the side with yellow and brown cake decorating gel.
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