A back to school themed party is a smart idea. Not only is it a fun, positive way to help kids adjust mentally for the new schedule just ahead, but it can be a good chance to reunite friends who may not have seen each other much over the summer.

A craft-making party is a theme that lets you kill two birds with one stone: Your kids' energy is harnessed, and they get a jump on creating some cool school supplies for themselves. One of my favorites is a Book Covering Party. With minimal supplies and some brown paper bags, kids can customize their reading material with all kinds of designs. Or, you could try a more general School Supply Party, where kids make and decorate Pencil Boxes, Pencil Pals, or even customized Lunch Sacks. The perfect snack for either occasion? A batch of Alphabet Cookies.

For jump-starting brainpower, you can get kids together for an afternoon of fun projects that stealthily work in some learning. At a Weird Science party, for example, kids could try making a Lava Lamp, Homemade Lightning, or even solve this curious mystery of how to put an Egg in a Bottle. Reading is another great theme. In fact, August is the perfect time to kick off the inaugural meeting of a kids' Book Club that might continue throughout the fall.

Last, but not least, it's fun to plan a small event for the first day of school itself--something like a Bus Stop Bagel Bash. Fueled by good food, good friends, and a send-off by mom and dad, who knows? Your kids might even look forward to that first day of school.

For more fun ideas, check out our Back-to-School site.