It is almost time for the new school year to start. This means brand new shoes, sharpened pencils, fresh school supplies and cool book covers for your nieces and nephews. As a child, I lived for this time of year. Call me crazy, but I was happier in school than with all of that summer time on my hands. So, for me, I think it's time to celebrate this new beginning. If you are thinking along the same lines and want to celebrate this time of year with your nieces and nephews, check out a few of the ideas and resources below:

If you are going to have a proper party with some friends, hand-deliver a fresh apple with a little tag attached that gives the details of the gathering. You could also cut out red apples or pencil shapes and provide the details as well. Those could be easily mailed off.

For decorations, have a chalkboard or white board out. Place a desk in the party area filled with books, school supplies. Make the party room look like a mock classroom. If there are specific school colors, decorate with balloons, streamers, and a school banner with these colors as well. Apples on the party table would also be excellent.

For the activities, make it a combination of word and mind games and gym class. Play Bingo, Trivia Pursuit, 20 Questions, Word Search, etc. Also, play Simon Says, Red Rover, Dodge Ball, Kickball, and Twister.

Hold some relay races. For a themed race, have the kids get ready for school filling their back pack and lunch bag, and then racing to one end and back for the next child to do the same in line.

If you have older nieces and nephews, pop in a video like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off – fun and easy for this age group.

For crafts, have the kids make bookmarks and/or book covers.

Food ideas are easy: pack school lunches. Small sandwiches, string cheese, a pack of goldfish crackers, apple or banana, and a little candy bar.

If you are going to hand out goodies, send your nieces and nephews back to school in style. Purchase paper gift bags, fill with tissue, and add lots of school supplies like pencils, notebooks, erasers, locker mirrors, sticky pads, and gel pens.

Happy Back to School Season!