Celebrate the end of summer with these back to school traditions!  They are a great way to help kids transition into the school year and create fun and meaningful family traditions and memories at the same time! 

Whether you are soaking in every last bit of summer or counting down the days until the first day of school you can make back to school fun with these back to school traditions that your kids will love!

Back to School Traditions to Start with Your Kids This Year

Here are 11 special back to school traditions that you and your kids will look forward to each year.

1. Countdown the Days

Make a paper chain, or mark the days off on the calendar to count down to the first day of school!  

Kids will get excited to mark off a day or cut off a paper chain link as they countdown the days until they are back to school. 

2. Go Back to School Shopping Together

Whether you shop in store or online for school supplies this year, include your kids in some of the back to school shopping. 

Take them shopping for new clothes or shoes if they need them, or let them pick out some of their own school supplies. 

It is incredible how exciting a new box of crayons is to a kid who got to pick them out himself.  

3. Grab Some New Books to Read Together

Reading aloud with your children is always a great idea, and can be especially useful before and during times of transition. 

Having books specifically about the first day of school or going to school in general is a great way to prepare your child and to facilitate conversations about school expectations and routines as well as how to handle various social situations at school.  

Reading together also creates intimacy and fosters parent-child bonds, so continuing to read aloud together even as the school year progresses is also really helpful. 

 

4. Prepare Well the Night Before

The best way to have a great first day of school is to prepare well the night before.  Here are some easy steps to prepare for the first day of school: 

• Pack lunches and back packs
• Lay out clothes for the morning
• Review your morning routine together
• Get an early start – don’t stay up too late the night before school!

For some great back to school organizational tips for moms, be sure to check out this post.  

5. Back to School Interviews

How about a fun back to school interview?  I always love these sorts of things where you can record exactly what your child’s answers are and keep them to look back on later.  

Here is a great printable back to school interview that your kids can fill out or you can write in their answers! 

6.  Have a Back to School Breakfast

Send your kids off to school full and ready to learn with a fun back to school breakfast.  It can be as simple or as fancy as you make it.  

Even something as simple as a pancake breakfast that’s out of the ordinary, or something as elaborate as full table decorations and themed food.  

A special breakfast will help get your kids excited to head back into the classroom. 

7.  Take a Back to School Photo

Don’t forget to take a first day of school photo!  (You can also take a last day of school photo for comparison to see how much your child has grown that year!)

I love these chalkboard signs for the first day of school that you can use year after year with chalkboard markers.

Or, you can grab these free printable first day of school signs.  

If you want to get really creative, here are some fun first day of school photo ideas that you’ll love!

8.  Put a Note in Their Lunchbox

Make your kids smile with fun lunchbox notes!

You can write a quick note on a post-it.  Or an index card.  Whatever you have will work. 

Just a quick note of encouragement, a funny joke or riddle, whatever you think will make your child laugh or smile when they open their lunchbox.  

 

9.  Grab a Special After-school Treat

Once the dismissal bell rings, surprise your kids with a fun treat. 

Maybe their favorite snacks when they get home or a trip to the ice cream shop. Something fun to celebrate the completion of the first day! 

10.  Highs and Lows Dinner Conversations 

I actually think this is a fun thing to do often with your family, but especially on the first day of school.  

Go around the table and let each person tell a high and low of the day.  

What was your favorite or least favorite or something part of the day?  Was there anything that you would change?  What made you laugh today? 

Asking open ended questions like this are a fun way to get your kids talking about their school day. 

11.  Celebrate the End of the First Week of School with a Fun Family Night

And while the first day of school tends to get the most excitement, why not plan a fun family night on the first Friday night of the new school year? 

Celebrate the end of the first week, getting back into routine, and the upcoming weekend by planning something fun for the whole family. 

Maybe family game night, pizza night, movie night.  Doing something fun together will help everyone relax after the first week back at school!

How are you getting ready to celebrate Back to School this year? 

For more fun back to school inspiration, be sure to follow my Back to School Pinterest board!