Over 20 Great Back to School Ideas for the Whole Family

I can’t believe it but for us our summer is nearly half over and it is time to start thinking about Back to School. I know for a lot of you back to school comes much earlier than for us, so I know you may already be fully planning and just weeks away from the new school year. I want to start this school year organized and prepared and having had some fun anticipation with the kids of a new year. So, today, I’ve got over 20 great ideas for back to school that are for the whole family. Things to help get us organized as well as have some fun leading up to school and fun those first few days of school as well.

I want to start this school year organized and prepared and having had some fun anticipation with the kids of a new year. So, today, I’ve got over 20 great ideas for back to school that are for the whole family. Things to help get us organized as well as have some fun leading up to school and fun those first few days of school as well.

I know there are so many people who count down the days until school and their kids go back to school because they are ready for the kids to go, but I generally countdown with dread that my kids go to school. I miss them and we all love the freedom of the summer. I love having my kids around and getting to spend time with them. We also love staying up late and not worrying about the dreaded packed daily schedule that the school year tends to bring.

This year, I wanted to find some fun ways to get ready for back to school. Not just things that were for the first days of schools or teachers, but things that would be fun for the kids and I to do together to get ready for school. I also wanted to find some great ways to get us all organized for a new year. Finally, I wanted to find some ways to make that first week of school special for everyone.

That is what I have put together for both of us today. Hopefully, it will kick the school year off with a great start and the ideas will also build some time and some memories with my girls. Letting them know that I love them and will miss them, but that we can have fun with the transition no matter what.

First off, we need to do all that back to school shopping. We love back to school shopping. We may like it a little too much, so my printable list will help keep us focused so we don’t overspend and buy things we don’t need. You can also check out my Clothes Shopping post if you tend to go overboard or need some organization for that part of back to school shopping.

Real Organized Back to School Shopping – The Real Thing with the Coake Family

As you may have noticed from the craft kits I sell in my shop, I love having some creative fun with my girls. Especially when we create something that one or all of us can use (versus those crafts that are just fun but you have no idea what to do with them when you are done). I think this is an adorable craft to help organize and I’m pretty sure my girls and I would all have fun making our own pencil cups with our own creative flair.

Rainbow Pencil Holder Can from Crafts by Amanda

I’m pretty sure my teenager would love for me to make her this school supply tote. Such a cute idea for a child who loves to have everything in one place.

School Supplies Tote Free Pattern from Naptime Creations

I can totally see having hours of fun making book covers like these. Of course, our schools don’t give kids textbooks anymore, so we don’t actually need to make these, but maybe we could make them for some notebooks or something.

Creating Colorful Book Covers for Back to School from Suzy’s Artsy Craftsy Sitcom

These are the cutest bookmarks and look like they would be fun to make together as well.

Craft Stick Pencil Bookmarks from Crafts by Amanda

There is no reason that the back to school season needs to be for the humans only, a few years ago I made these backpacks for our dolls. My girls have loved using them with their dolls.

Back to School Backpacks {American Girl Doll Pattern} from The Real Thing with the Coake Family

After having some creative fun together, I need to get things a little more organized for the new school year. I’m going to have a child in High School….can someone tell me how that happened? At any rate, she is choosing a rigorous academic course and will need to have some space to work on her homework. This homework caddy would work perfectly to organize things.

DIY Wooden Homework Caddy from Uncommon Designs

My youngest daughter sure can get her school papers pretty disorganized (even though we homeschool and in theory, I should be helping her stay organized). These are some great tips on helping disorganized kids organize their homework and after school transitions.

How to Help Disorganized Kids Organize Their Homework from Sugar Aunts

If you homeschool, you can get some ideas from my makeover of our homeschool supplies. Having things organized in a way that makes sense really helps things go more smoothly on a daily basis.

Our Newly Organized Homeschool Area from The Real Thing with the Coake Family

I love this great idea to organize now so you can end the year with a special gift as well. This is such a great way to take care of all of those special school papers and have a fun book at the end of the year.

Back to School: Homework Organization from View from the Fridge

If your calendar fills up as quickly as mine does, you may enjoy hearing some of my tips for how to plan out your calendar to accomplish the most on your to-do list and possibly remain sane. 😉

Back to School Organization Tips for Busy Moms from The Real Thing with the Coake Family

While we are organizing, this is my method for mapping out our homeschool year. I tend to do a big picture map out so that I know if I am on track during the year. Then I plan week by week during the year. You can learn more in this post.

How to Organize Your Homeschool Year from The Real Thing with the Coake Family

The final bit of organization for the new school year is setting up systems to keep things moving smoothly throughout the house. Keeping things organized and simple makes a huge difference to me and I share tons of printables and my organization systems here.

Get Your Home and Family Organized from The Real Thing with the Coake Family

I love the yearly back to school pictures! They are such a great marker of how much our kids grow each year. This is a fun idea to make a backdrop for better first day of school pictures. You can make your own tassels or buy some at the store and follow the simple directions to make your own backdrop.

DIY Photography Backdrop for Great Back to School Pictures from The Real Thing with the Coake Family

Once that first day of school arrives, it is fun to make it special in little ways. I love this adorable breakfast and think even my high schooler would love seeing this on her plate. 🙂

Sweet School Bus Back to School Breakfast from B-Inspired Mama

The simple way to mark how old the kids are is with some cute signs that show what grade they are starting. I’ve got a whole set of free printables for you.

Back to School ~ Free Printable First Day of School Signs from The Real Thing with the Coake Family

To me, the simple things are some of the best things. I created these adorable printables that you can print on stickers and add to anything, lunch box, lunch bag, napkin or treat bags. Fun!

School Lunch Ideas ~ Free Printable Lunch Box Notes from The Real Thing with the Coake Family

If you prefer, you can add these cute lunch box jokes and notes to your lunches as well.

Back to School Lunch Box Jokes & Notes from Happiness is Homemade

When I have time, making a cute lunch always goes over well at my house.

Adorable and Delicious Lunch Ideas from The Real Thing with the Coake Family

I know my girls will both love this lunch idea! They seem to love anything deconstructed. It looks yummy to mommy, too!

Kid Approved Pasta Salad Lunch Idea from Shaken Together Life

Pizza anything also does well in the lunch box. These look like a great weekend baking project that will equal easy lunch packing during the week.

4 Cheese Pepperoni Pizza Bites from Glue Sticks & Gumdrops

My kids go through snacks like nobodies business during the school year, so this fun no nut trail mix is perfect so I can snack with them since I have a nut allergy.

No Nut Back to School Trail Mix from Simplistically Living

Whether you add a cute sweet treat to the lunch box or save them for something fun for after school or the first day of school dinner, it just seems like a special sweet treat is a good idea the first few days of school. These are three adorable ideas.