Busy weekdays and new routines can leave everyone feeling a little shattered come the weekend. If you’re feeling the strain, plan a themed movie night for the entire family. Make a date with your kids for Friday or Saturday night, set up a cozy theater zone with plenty of comfy cushions and room to sprawl, put your phones on silent, sit back and enjoy the show.
Craft: Mise-en-Scene
Add to the movie theater feel and set the scene by making or printing out your own tickets. Make your own popcorn boxes with this step-by-step guide. Use old textbook pages in keeping with the theme.
Make: Let’s All Go to the Lobby
School lunches aren’t a patch on these delicious snacks. Make these treats with kids before the movie. Keep the food simple enough to eat with one hand so there’s no need to worry about spills and cleanup.
- Knock together one of these delicious trail mixes.
- Whip up either of these recipes for crudités and dip.
- Try this healthy take on candied popcorn.
- If you feel like something special, make Martha Stewart’s recipe which is a little more decadent and a lot less healthy!
- Or try her gussied up chicken nuggets.
- And temperatures are still high, so an ice-cream sandwich could be just the ticket.
Watch: Back-to-School Classics
Schedule a double feature, with the first feature suitable for kids, and the second for parents and older teens.
First Feature
The Harry Potter Series
Make your way to platform 9¾ and board the Hogwarts Express for the ultimate back-to-school adventures.
Matilda
Matilda’s awful school life should make every kid feel lucky by comparison. (This one is a smidge too dark for young kids).
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Follow the hero’s turbulent first year of middle school.
Second Feature
Election
Teacher Jim McAllister (Matthew Broderick) and would-be Class President Tracy Enid Flick (Reese Witherspoon) square off in this comedic tale of ambition and justice.
Mean Girls
Tina Fey’s take on high school girl drama, starring Lindsay Lohan 1.0.
Never Been Kissed
Watch Josie Grossie (Drew Barrymore) take a second shot at high school.
Photo from Flickr.com
