Back To School Bash

I have been perplexed about what my next blog topic would be and I came across an article in Metro Parent by Alexandra Lim-Chua Wee, titled, “Back To School Mindset.” After reading it, a light bulb went off in my head. Back to school party…what a great idea! 

This party is a great way to invite your children’s friends over for some end-of-summer fun. You can make it simple and inexpensive or bring on the bling. Invite a few friends or heck, invite the whole neighborhood!

Since I love party planning I will make your job easier and provide you some ideas to make your Back To School Bash a smashing success that will entertain parents and kids alike. 

Summer is a great time to entertain outside and it limits the cleanup work needed inside. So have the party in your backyard or consider a local park like Indian Springs Metropark in White Lake. I love the idea of a buffet--keep it simple and just have an ice cream bar with plenty of toppings or offer a variety of mini lunch/snack options (you know I love all things miniature!). 

For example, make PB&J or ham and cheese sandwiches and cut them in quarters or cut with cookie cutters into fun shapes, or add some fruit kabobs and dip, cheese cubes and crackers or individual servings of goldfish served in pretty paper cupcake liners or mini Dixie cups. 

Of course you can’t have a party without dessert so include cupcakes or homemade ice cream cookie sandwiches or dessert kabobs (wooden skewers with squares of brownie or cake, marshmallows, raspberries, etc.) as part of the menu. 

As for drinks, how about mini water bottles, drink boxes or fun old fashioned milk bottles served with chocolate milk and a drinking straw. I recently came across a
fun way to dress up water bottles by wrapping pretty duct tape over the label
(you wouldn’t believe all the colors and patterns duct tape comes in)! 

Now, you can choose to have some activities or none at all—kids will undoubtedly have fun on their own but it is always good to have a couple back up activities that can help parents get involved. Just putting the sprinkler or slip-n-slide on
is sometimes enough. You could plan a simple scavenger hunt or engage the kids in decorating their own cupcake or making their own science experiment (think slime, shaving cream paint, home-made rock candy). 

Although not necessary, it is always fun to get a favor at a party. Since the theme is back to school, school supplies would be a logical choice (colorful pen, mini notepad, crayons, etc.). 

I just might have to have a party for my girls this year and you might want to consider one too. If you are interested in more ideas and inspiration, check out my Pinterest Board titled “Back To School Bash” at http://pinterest.com/gesundheit17/

Most of all, have fun!! 

Lisa Scott is a White Lake resident and owner of Tiny Treats, which provides a variety of miniature desserts for clients throughout Southeastern Michigan. Check out her website at www.tinytreatsbylisa.weebly.com and find Tiny Treats on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tiny-Treats/196429780401854.