The final days of summer break are here, and it’s just about time to start a new school year! Whether your child is excited to dive back into daily learning or dreading it, we have some ideas to help ease the transition. Here are seven back-to-school traditions that will make the first few days of school extra special for your kiddos!
Back-to-School Traditions for a Fun Fresh Start
Try out some (or all) of these back-to-school traditions with your family this year!
1) New School Year’s Eve
On the day before the first day of school, celebrate New School Year’s Eve! Just like New Year’s Eve, put up some fun decorations, break out the noise-makers, and pop a bottle of sparkling cider. In the evening, you can light some sparklers or fireworks, or find a firework show online to watch. Don’t forget to countdown before bedtime!
2) First Day Fashion Show
Do you or your student have a special new outfit in mind for the first day of school? Designate a hallway in your home as a runway, play some music, and have them do their best model walk before heading out for school. If you homeschool, your child can still dress up for their first day! Or, if they’d rather stay comfy, have a first day of school pajama fashion show instead.
3) School Supply Scavenger Hunt
Get your kids excited about new school supplies by doing a fun scavenger hunt! Simply put together a basket of items, such as a pack of pencils, highlighters, folders, notebooks, and snacks, for each child and hide it somewhere around the house. Then write down a few clues and post them around the house. The final clue should lead them to their basket.
4) Special Back-to-School Breakfast
Start your kids’ first day off on a high note by preparing a special breakfast spread! Consider selecting foods that you don’t have too often, like cinnamon rolls or fruit and yogurt parfaits. Or, you can do a unique twist on your typical breakfast to make it extra special. For example, cut up French toast into bite-sized pieces and put them on kebab sticks with fruit (rather than simply plating it as you normally would). You could also make a fun after-school snack—like a kiddie charcuterie board or banana splits—to keep spirits up after a long day.
5) First Day Questionnaire
Create a list of questions to ask your child that you can use year after year on the first day of school to see how their interests change. Some questions include:
- What’s your favorite subject?
- What’s your favorite food?
- What’s your favorite thing to do?
- What’s your favorite book?
- What do you want to be when you grow up?
Make sure that you leave a space for their name, age, and the school year. Then, put the pages in a safe spot, like a dedicated folder or binder. You can look back on each year to see how their answers change!
6) First Day Photo Shoot
Don’t forget to document the first day by snapping some photos! We suggest having your child stand by the front door or a landmark in your yard, like a tree, so that you can see how much they grow from the first day to the last day. You can also make an adult sized t-shirt with their graduation year on the front and have them wear it for a photograph on the first day of school each year until they are a senior.
7) First Day Field Trip
If you are homeschooling your child, consider starting the year with a field trip! You could go to a local museum, historical site, or nature area that’s related to something you will be teaching about this year. This is a fun way to give your students a bit of background knowledge on the topic before jumping right into your lessons. Or, if you just want to get some fresh air on your first day, take the kiddos to the park to enjoy fewer crowds once school is back in session.
Back-to-school season can be a bit stressful and sad for students (and parents, too). These back-to-school traditions can boost your family’s morale and get everyone in a good headspace for a new year.
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