I'd like to plan a fun event that gets kids back in the school spirit. Any ideas?

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.

Ann Hallock is the editor of FAMILYFUN, a magazine for parents of kids ages three to 12 that reaches 1.3 million readers monthly. She also contributed to the books FAMILYFUN CRAFTS, FAMILYFUN'S PARTIES and DISNEY'S FAMILY COOKBOOK, and appears regularly on television, including the PBS series, "Hands on Crafts for Kids."