Back to School Party Ideas: Made for My Kids and Yours
Made for my kids and yours.
I set the first day of school table with my kids, and the whole thing ended in a milk carton toast. This is our back to school party, made with the collection I created with the design team at My Mind's Eye.
From Shakira
My kids are always part of the party
When we celebrate at our house, my kids are right there in it. That's the whole spirit of the video: the table gets set, the cookies come out, and everyone raises a milk carton with a pencil straw in it. No occasion required beyond a new school year, which is exactly the kind of occasion worth marking.
The table is set with School Rules, the newest back to school collection I created with the design team at My Mind's Eye, from the notebook plates down to the confetti.
"here's to the first day"
We made it for my kids and yours, and I can't wait to see the magical memories you make this school year!
shakira, occasions by shakira
The look
The school supply palette
Cream keeps it light, then the school supplies do the coloring: notebook red, pencil yellow, a chalkboard green, and eraser pink.
notes red
#C0524A
no. 2 yellow
#F2D479
chalkboard green
#8FBFA3
eraser pink
#F5C6CB
notebook cream
#FFF9F5
The newest piece
Notebook Shaped Plate Set
$7.99
The plates my kids reach over all through the video. Little notebook covers in two colorways, blue and green and red and pink, with gold foil catching the light.
- Two notebook designs: blue and green, red and pink
- Shiny gold foil accents
- Set of 8 sturdy paper plates
- Part of School Rules, my newest collection
Set the mood
First day words
Tuck one into a lunchbox note, a locker surprise, or the caption on the front porch photo. Lines like:
Party questions
Back to school party, answered
What do you need for a back to school party?
Start with the table: school themed paper plates, napkins, and a runner, then add treat bags for favors and confetti scattered down the middle. A tray of decorated cookies and milk with fun straws covers the menu. A handful of pieces carries the whole theme, so it works as an after school surprise, not a production.
When should you throw a back to school party?
The two favorites are the night before, as a send off dinner, and the afternoon of the first day, as a welcome home snack. The afternoon version is the easy win: the table is waiting when they walk in, and the party doubles as the moment they tell you everything about their day.
What food works for a back to school party?
Cookies and milk is the classic for a reason, and school themed sugar cookies steal the show. Round it out with simple after school favorites like fruit, popcorn, or mini sandwiches. Keep it snack sized so it lands between the last bell and dinner.
What is Occasions by Shakira?
Occasions by Shakira is my collaboration line with My Mind's Eye. I'm Shakira Patterson, the mama of four behind OccasionsbyShakira.com and the Occasions Bin tradition. We design the collections together, with playful takes on notebooks, pencils, erasers, and other classic school day icons. School Rules is the newest line in the collaboration.
Everything on the table
The first day kit
Every piece here is something I created with the design team at My Mind's Eye, and it's all on the table in our video.
on the table
Notebook Shaped Plate Set
The plates from the video: notebook covers in blue and green and red and pink, with gold foil. Eight per set.
Lined Paper Table Runner
Classic notebook paper in cream, running the whole length of our table.
Paper and Pencil Bamboo Tray Set
The serving piece from the video, holding all those cookies. Two stackable bamboo trays, food safe and dishwasher safe.
the extra credit
Lunchbox Treat Boxes
Shaped like little lunchboxes, with a spot for each kid’s name. The green box we open on camera.
Back to School Resin Barrettes
Four acrylic clips on cream velvet: pencil, eraser, ruler bow, and megaphone. Spot two in my daughter’s hair.
School Table Scatter Confetti
102 pieces in six school designs: pencil, glue, protractor, scissors, eraser, and paper clip. Scatter and done.
Behind the collection
Shakira Patterson
I'm the mama of four and active duty military spouse behind OccasionsbyShakira.com and the Occasions Bin™ tradition you've seen all over social media. This story came from our own back to school party, filmed with my kids around the table.
follow along @occasions.byshakiraMore to explore
Make the whole first week a party
Start with our table, then keep going: lunchbox notes for the first day, and a whole back to school world beyond it.
