Beating The “Back-To-School" Blahs

Beating The “Back-To-School" Blahs

Years ago, I saw a hilarious commercial featuring a dad pushing a shopping cart at a well-known office supply store with his young son and daughter. They were obviously loading up on back-to-school supplies. The kids were sporting unhappy faces while their father was downright giddy looking. In the background I could hear Andy Williams belting out, It’s The Most Wonderful Time of The Year.

With summer 2021 coming to an end, many kids are heading back to in-person learning for the first time in over a year. I’m thinking, as in so many other areas, this new school year will be different from any other. Perhaps for a lot of students the excitement of learning alongside their peers again will outweigh the dread of returning to the classroom after the long summer break.

As a kid, I remember Labor Day always marked the end of summer. Now, most public schools begin their calendar year in August. For those of us who live in Texas, this makes for some toasty trips to the bus stop—or for those who have to “hoof it”, (three miles uphill each way, lol!) it can be even more of a challenge.

I can totally relate to the grumpy kids in the commercials. My sisters and I dreaded the end of summer. For us it meant the end of sleeping ‘til noon then hanging out at the pool. No more piling into the family station wagon and heading to 7-11 for Slurpees or staying up late watching monster movies with our friends.

About the only thing we did look forward to doing was shopping for back-to-school clothes. In mid to late-August, my mom would load us into the car, and we’d head out to hunt for bargains. We’d pass by the store mannequins, who despite their fixed smiles, looked miserable outfitted in trendy fall boots and heavy sweaters. For us, it was all about scoring cute tees and jeans.

If you’re in property management, there are likely school-aged kids who call your community home and you may have been thinking about some ways to help them generate some excitement. Here are some of my favorite back-to-school events you can host for your residents:

Pizza Party – Invite parents and kids alike to a special pizza party designed with the younger folks in mindthis means no “yucky stuff” as toppings—just cheese and pepperoni should suffice. A fun activity during the party might be for the kids to participate in a coloring/drawing contest depicting how they spent their summer vacation. Gift cards to Target for prizes is a great idea!

End-Of-Summer Pool Party – Hold a fun outdoor event at your community pool with hot dogs and hamburgers. Popsicles would be the perfect touch for an inexpensive dessert.

Donuts at the Bus Stop – Donuts are an always-appreciated morning treat. You can station your staff at the bus stop or at the main exit of your community and wish your residents a happy and productive day in class.

If none of these ideas appeal to you, consider looking into some of the fun and off-the-wall “National Days” recognized in September and plan your event around one of them. Here are just a few choices:

9/4 National Tailgating Day

9/5 National Cheese Pizza Day

9/9 National Teddy Bear Day

9/12 National Chocolate Milkshake Day

9/19 National Talk Like a Pirate Day

I’m wondering . . . Who comes up with this stuff?

Throwing a back-to-school event for your younger residents is not only fun, it’s also a great way to strengthen the feeling of community at your property this fall.

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