Back to School Traditions to Start This Year

Want to make the back-to-school season more special and memorable for your children this year? And not stress yourself out!? (This is key). You’ve come to the right place. I’m sharing some back-to-school traditions that you should consider starting with your family this year.

I promise you won’t be spending hours prepping for a list of 20 plus activities. You’ve already spent days (and tons of cash) buying new clothes and shoes and backpacks and lunchboxes and school supplies (does the list ever end??!!)

Keep it simple and meaningful! That’s my motto here. My blog is meant to be a place of simplicity and achievable things for everyday moms. So, keep that in mind as you read about 6 back-to-school traditions my family is actually doing this school year.

Whether your kids are super excited to be heading back to school or it’s going to be like pulling teeth each morning, it’s that time of year. I have mixed feelings over here with my 4 kids. We will get through this, mamas!

Tradition #1: Prepare a Back-to-School Breakfast (and/or lunch!)

Here’s our little breakfast setup this year.

A few decorations. Who doesn’t love balloons shaped like apples and school buses?

I opted out on spending a fortune on school themed tableware. Instead, I purchased simple red plates and yellow napkins from the Dollar Tree.

A “special” breakfast, whether that be your kid’s favorite foods or something school-themed.

Like pencils made from cheese sticks perhaps.

Or pencils made from wafer cookies.

So cute! But not on my radar.

Personally, I like to keep things simple. I found that my kids don’t appreciate food shaped like inanimate objects as much as it’s worth my time to make them.

I opted for chocolate chip muffins (I was able to make 6 large ones and a bunch of mini ones to stick in the freezer for later). Also, some berries, sausage, and bacon. Oh, I did make cinnamon rolls too (just the pre-packaged ones in the tube). Because my kids seem to enjoy those ones much more than the homemade version which literally zaps hours from my life (so I’m ok with it).

The main point I’m trying to make here is this: make a breakfast and decorate in a back-to-school theme if possible! I think ours turned out cute (but not overdone). And it didn’t take me all that long either.

If a special breakfast isn’t enough, let’s add a lunch as well! That’s what we did, as our first day was a half day. All I did was keep the same decorations, use the same tableware, and make the same lunch I would on a normal day, but called it a “back-to-school lunch.”

Here’s our charcuterie style lunch. Well, I did stop and grab some Crumbl Cookies (mostly for the kids, but I was craving them too).

Tradition #2: Write your kids encouraging notes.

Write an encouraging note for your child on the first day of school. My husband was not able to be there for their first day, but he wrote them notes! Just encouraging them to do a great job this year and stating how proud we are of them.

I didn’t even put the notes in an envelope or anything. Just on simple notebook paper. Laid in front of their plates at the table.

If your child’s love language is words of affirmation, this one will give you a lot of bang for your buck. They will probably keep the note and maybe even frame it.

If you have a younger child, you could tweak this: color them a heart picture with their name on it (how darling). I didn’t do this, but youngest probably would have loved it. You know your kids best, so pick whatever form of encouraging note, card, or picture would bring them the most joy (but works with the time you have).

Tradition #3: Read a book the night before school starts.

We try to make reading part of our evening routine anyways, so what better way to amp up your reading game, than to find back-to-school themed books.

Especially for the younger children, it might be helpful to read a book that explains that their worries or fears are normal.

My two youngest daughters picked out these two books below from the library the week before school started, without even realizing they were perfect. My youngest is starting kindergarten and her older sister starting 1st grade.

It feels a little more personalized since each book is about a child going into the exact grade they are! I’m sure there are dozens of options of back-to-school books you can find on Amazon or borrow from your local library.

Tradition #4: Go out for ice cream after the first week of school is completed.

Ice cream? Of course, sign me up. My kids agree, anytime and anywhere.

This year my parents initiated this ice cream eating excursion. They treated me and the kids for ice cream, but they took it up a notch. They came up with questions to ask the kids, focusing the conversation on school and how their first week went.

Here are some questions you could ask your kids:

What do you like about school so far?

What do you not like so much?

What friends have you made?

What subject do you like the best?

Add in any other questions you can think of!

This is a fun way for your kids to open up a little while enjoying a sweet treat. It may help you as a mama notice some fears or insecurities your kids may have. You may be able to better identify some of their strengths, as well as struggles that may be encountered this year.

Overall, it’ll be a chance to connect with your kids and enjoy the amazing goodness of ice cream together.

Tradition #5: Take first day pictures.

Well, duh! Okay, so I know every parent probably takes the classic first day of school pictures.

However, I have started taking pictures the day before. That way I’m able to take my time and get all the pictures I want of my adorable children. My girls had fun with it this year and some ideas for cute poses they wanted to include.

Let me tell you, trying to get the good ones the morning of, has proved to be difficult. Save yourself the stress of another thing to add to the first day morning chaos and do it the day (or weekend before).

I use a letterboard and even let the kids decorate with the tiles they want.

Amazon has felt letterboards for as inexpensive as $9.99. You can use them year after year!

Tradition #6: Pray for (and with) your children.

This “tradition” is more important than we realize. God is the one who is by your child’s side throughout the school day.

Hour by hour. Day by Day.

He knows their hearts. Their needs. Their strengths. Their weaknesses. Their fears.

Pray for each of your children by name, starting on the first day of school, but don’t stop there! Each morning, make it a priority to talk to God. Even 2 minutes each morning (or any time of day!) is going to make the world of difference.

I know the mornings are crazy and rushed and sometimes you feel like you’re “a chicken with their head cut off,” as you run around. Making sure everyone has everything they need (plus things they probably don’t!)

But try to make time to pray as a family too! Even if it’s “Lord help us today” or “God be with us at school today.”

On the drive to school. On the walk to the bus stop. As you’re eating a nice, calm breakfast (yeah right!)

My point here is this: you have an extra minute (30 seconds?) Teach your kids to communicate with God, their Perfect Heavenly Father.

Make Back-to-School Season Memorable This Year!

I could go on and on with a bunch of traditions that you may or may not have time for. Let’s keep it realistic though. What is most meaningful to your kids? What is most meaningful to you? Because our mama feelings matter too.

These are small traditions that my family is doing this year. I want to make it memorable for my kids and be an encouragement to them. A fresh start for them.

A new teacher. A new backpack. New friends. A few family activities to get them excited about the year ahead! And for them to know that their parents love them and are so proud of them.