Start of School Traditions?

Sara

Riding in the Neil mobile
Joined
Jul 9, 2009
Messages
8,276
So obviously I have this whole First Day of School thing on my brain lately...do you guys do anything "special" at the start of school? Any fun traditions or anything?

I was thinking of how I can make the experience fun for Bugga on her first day!
 
I was JUST talking to G about this earlier!! I told him I want to make it special too! I will probably make a special breakfast and do something like go for ice cream after school. Not sure! I can't wait to see everyone says!!!
 
we've never really established a 'tradition' so to speak. basically getting all their stuff together the day before, we make a pretty big deal out of that. they love the idea of freshly filled back packs and new supplies (who doesn't, right?). we usually do a few pics in the morning, of course.

this year i'm thinking i'll have to do something. everyone is going to be in yet another new school, so i want them to have something to start the day off on a possitive note. just not sure what yet.
 
We usually go and get an icecream sundae at the end of the first day of each term. At the school we used to go to some of the mums have breakfast together after dropping the kids off at school on the first day of the year.

We also take our children out to a restaurant (their choice but we encourage them to pick somewhere nice) for dinner when they get their report cards.
 
This is what we do on the first day of school, and the last day of school...
When the kids come home we walk to our nearest Kwik Trip and they each get to chose a donut.
Then we walk home and sit outside and talk about their days and snack on our yummy donuts.
The kids look forward to it each year!
 
Last edited:
Nope, the only thing I'm organized enough for is to get some pictures in the morning before we take them to school. :) I work full time so usually don't have any extra time in the morning and I don't get to pick my kids up from school for treats afterwards either.
 
I have a couple years before I have to worry abt this, but I think I'm going to take DD for a mommy-daughter pedicure a couple days before school starts. I think it will help cement in her mind that she is a BIG GURL with her new clothes, new school supplies, and then her newly painted toes. :)

I realize that doesn't work for boys, but I don't have a boy, so I haven't gotten that far yet! :giggle
 
We don't do anything too crazy for the first day... always a photo shoot! And yes a special snack after school. I don't like doing too much in anticipation for school cuz it can cause extra anxiety in kids.

On the LAST day of school we have a fun tradition.... we all wait at the bus stop then do a water attack w/ water balloons and squirt guns...SO MUCH FUN!
 
For back to school, we do a special shopping trip for a new backpack/lunch box/school supplies and lunch out somewhere fun. We also do pics outside the house and again at the desks inside school.

For last day, we also do pics and then the girls get to have friends over for ice cream or a treat.
 
We choose in advance the clothes my little girl wanted to wear for her first day and we do pictures before going to school.
Nothing else and nothing special on the last day exept giving a present to her maistress
 
I was just asking Husband about this yesterday! As kids, my dad always made us french toast and scrambled eggs on our first day, our favorite breakfast, and then we always got all dolled up and went to see my dad at work before school...he usually left really early, before we were dressed. We'd take our pictures in front of the big oak tree outside his shop. After school, we'd go and get ice cream or get to have dinner at McDonalds. :) I think I'll probably take B to Marble Slab...he loves ice cream! I really like Krista's tradition of sitting and eating their doughnuts and discussing the kids day! Only we're a 20 minute drive from town, so I don't think we'll be walking for that ice cream! LOL!
 
Yikes - you guys make me feel bad! I don't do anything. LOL!!! I take pictures aaaaand that's it. HAHAHA. I think this year I might take them all to ice cream or SOMETHING after reading all of your posts! I feel bad now! LOL

And Lauren - LOVE the last day of school tradition!!! If I wasn't helping all day in my kids' classes on the last day I would SO do that. :D
 
I have a couple years before I have to worry abt this, but I think I'm going to take DD for a mommy-daughter pedicure a couple days before school starts. I think it will help cement in her mind that she is a BIG GURL with her new clothes, new school supplies, and then her newly painted toes. :)

I realize that doesn't work for boys, but I don't have a boy, so I haven't gotten that far yet! :giggle

I totally did this for Lily last year, except I didn't pay for one. I painted her nails and put some cute little tattoo art on them. We even matched the paint color to her clothes! I'm looking forward to doing this again this year. I'm with you on the boy thing!
 
Does shoving them out the door and then spiking my coffee with Baileys count as a tradition? #motheroftheyear
 
Angie that's awesome! I'm thinking that will be my plan when my 4YO gets there next year!

For my DD, who will be going into first grade this year, we did fun stuff on the first day! Of course we had her backpack, school supplies and clothes all waaaaayyy ahead of time (mommy likes to shop! LOL!). But I was so worried/sad/happy/excited about her starting that I took the day off of work! I was able to drop her off, sit outside in the car and cry for a good 20 minutes, then I headed home and cleaned house. I planned a special snack for her at the end of the day (strawberry soda in bottles and some snack foods) and then we asked her questions about her day while she had her snack.

It was so fun. I took pics of her while she was eating her snack and talking, and I jotted down the things she said. It's such a special memory for ME...so I'm really glad i did!
 
Since this will be our first 'first day', I will have to see what I can come up with.
Right now, I am thinking it will be a combo of all of the above...doing something fun and memorable for the boys....and me coming home and basking in absolute silence for a few :)
 
Love reading about everyone's traditions. I don't remember really having something we did every year when I was growing up (besides the new clothes & school supply shopping). I am going to have to come up with something for Gavin this year since it is kinder....feels different than preschool/daycare since it is officially school!
 
Back
Top