19 First Day of School Traditions to Get Them Excited for a New Year
Make it the most memorable back-to-school season yet!
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The first day of school is bittersweet for kids and parents alike. It's exciting and admittedly a little scary at the same time. For the kids, the end of summer means new teachers, new schedules, and new challenges. For the parents, it means seeing their babies hit yet another milestone, but gosh, it sure does happen so fast!
That's where these fun first day of school traditions come in. You can make and capture memories for the whole family. Plus, they're good distractions so everyone gets over those back-to-school jitters and possible tears (here's looking at you, Mom and Dad!). Some are classics like taking the annual first day of school photo and adding a note in their lunchbox―things you might remember and cherish from your own childhoods. Others are more practical like packing up their school supplies in their brand new backpack to set them up for success.
You'll also find other ideas that might become new traditions this year like making a time capsule for everyone to open on their last day of school. You'll really see how much they've grown! You can decorate your yard, set up a scavenger hunt, or create a cousin of the tooth fairy and leave some new crayons under their pillow. Whatever you decide, you'll give them a happy day and make the beginning of their new chapter so much more meaningful.
More ideas to prep for school:
Take a First Day Photo
Probably the most popular tradition is the first day of school photo. A simple snap in their spiffy new outfits will get them excited to get on that bus. A sign is completely optional but also adds to the fun tradition.
Have a Fashion Show
If they're excited about all the new clothes they have for heading back to school, have them show it off! It's a fun way to get them excited for all the newness and will make it easier to decide on their choice for the first official outfit.
Read a Book
Everyone gets jitters! Reading them a book to explain that it will all be okay is a more interactive way of getting that across to them. School's First Day of School is a great example, written from the point of view of the school itself and it's great for all ages.
Leave a Note in Their Lunchbox
Whether it's a fancy card or just a Post-It, leaving them a little note in their lunchbox will give them give them a midday pep talk. It's the little things like this that they'll remember most from their big day.
Get Them a Special Shirt
Commemorate the new year with a new shirt! You can order a custom shirt for them to wear on their first day to introduce themselves to new classmates. And how cute will those photos be?!
Prepare Them Breakfast
Set them up for success by making them a special breakfast. If you know you're going to be pressed for time, you can prep plenty of breakfast ideas in advance and reheat them in the morning.
Get the French Toast Sticks recipe.
Assemble Their Backpack
You can quite literally get them ready for a successful year ahead by making an event out of preparing all of their school supplies and packing their book bags. You can have a checklist, and when they're done, hopefully they'll have a sense of accomplishment!
Have a School Supply Scavenger Hunt
Before they pack up that bag, you can hide a bunch of supplies around your yard and have them go on a scavenger hunt. Use that same checklist so they know what to look for. If you have time to plan ahead of time, you could invite their new school buddies over, too!
Create a Time Capsule
There’s nothing like a new school year to remind you just how quickly your kids are growing up. Create a time capsule to document the moment in time and see how much they've grown by opening it up on the last day of school.
See more at Tried and True.
Customize Their Water Bottle
A water bottle is now officially on the list of important school supplies that all kids need. Let them customize theirs with a cool sticker decal. You can place it on yourself, or if they're old enough, let it be a project for them to do.
Make a Special After-School Snack
Welcome them home with a special treat! It's a great excuse to have them sit for a few minutes and tell you all about their day, and it will make them feel special that you thought about them even when they were out of the house.
Get the Homemade Dunkaroos recipe.
Have a Show-and-Tell Dinner
Another way to get them to open up about their day is to have show-and-tell at dinner. Maybe they created some new artwork or already have homework they want to discuss. Making them physically show you will help engage them, especially if they're shy.
Be the Back-to-School Fairy
If your kids love a visit from the tooth fairy, try a visit from her cousin: the back-to-school fairy! The kids can wake up, look under their pillow, and find a special treat. Think: crayons or stickers to decorate their supplies.
Write Them a Message
Write something big and bold to say goodbye or welcome them home on your sidewalk. It will make them smile whether they are coming or going and know you are with them even if you're physically not there to hold their hand.
Decorate the Yard
Nothing says "excitement" quite like party decorations. You don't need to throw a party, of course, but having a big celebration set up in the yard will help them get excited to head out for their big day.
Have an After-School Activity Ready
If they seem particularly nervous, have a fun activity ready for them when they get home. Set up an easy fall craft for them to assemble, for instance, to help take their mind off of all the stress like these bubble wrap apples.
Get the tutorial at Somewhat Simple.
Record an Interview
Record an interview with your kids! Ask them what they look forward to, who they want to see on their first day, what their favorite color is, etc. Then you can do a similar recap on the last day of school to compare!
Have a Dance Party
Get all that nervous energy out by having a little dance party in the house. You can do it the night before, a short version the morning of, or when they get home as a celebration. Their favorite songs are a must, of course.
Treat Them to Ice Cream
An overwhelming day calls for a treat! Bringing them out for ice cream to celebrate a job well done on their first day is an easy and sweet way to end the day. And if you tell them in advance, it'll give them something to strive for if they feel like they're struggling.
AnnMarie Mattila is the Senior Editor for The Pioneer Woman, covering a wide range of topics from food and cooking to home, beauty, style, and more.
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