As the school year approaches, excitement and anxiety can overwhelm parents and children. To help ease the back-to-school scaries and first-day jitters, start some special traditions that will motivate your kids for a fresh start and build lasting memories. These fun activities will make the return to school a positive experience and help alleviate school worries.
Start a New Back-to-School Tradition:
1. Super Star Shopping Date
Remember the thrill of picking out new school clothes when you were a kid? Maybe you have a new backpack, lunchbox, or some fresh kicks. No matter how much or how little was on the shopping list or what’s on your list for your own kids, everyone loves starting the year with something new.
- Take advantage of pre-fall sales and hit the stores with your child. Arrange to send siblings on a playdate or hire a sitter to take over while you two are on a date.
- Stock up on school supplies, gear, and clothes for the new year.
- Keep budgets in check by assessing your child’s closets and drawers and deciding what’s needed.
- Make shopping a fun event by including a stop for lunch. Use this time with your child to discuss the summer’s highlights, plans, and goals for the new year.
2. Meet a New Teacher and Host a New Friend
For a child, walking into a new classroom can be a scary thing. Seeing a familiar face in the room always makes it more accessible.
- Take advantage of opportunities to meet the new teacher and visit the classroom to build familiarity and calm first-day anxieties.
- If you have a class roster, schedule a playdate with a classmate in the same class to make the transition smoother.
- Make it an annual project to find a new or long-lost friend to meet up with after orientation day. This can significantly reduce the school jitters associated with the first day.
3. Tweak Your Routine and Refresh Your Homework Station or Quiet Time Spot
Being organized feels fantastic, gives everyone in the family a sense of control and preparedness, and reduces back to-school scaries.
- Hold a family meeting to discuss what could be improved from last year and to share the school routine once school starts.
- Refresh supplies for homework and organize them in a location that’s easy for kids to access.
- This is the time to roll out new calendars, introduce new sitters, and ensure kids know what to expect. Many free printables will help you organize expectations. Consider chore charts, weekly planners, or lunchbox planners you can create with your child. Even simple This is Our Morning Routine and This is Our After-School Routine printable charts to help kids stay focused.
- For younger kids, perk up the quiet time area by adding a few new books or making the space more inviting.
Related: 15 Hilarious First Day of School Memes
4. Share a Story and a Craft
Get kids excited about school and address concerns and worries by sharing a book about starting school. Picture books can help reassure kids about starting school or going to a new school, and they also serve as catalysts for better communication at home.
- Check this handy list of top children’s books about starting school. From books about first-day jitters, how to make new friends, and simply what to expect so there are no back to school scaries.
- If you have a crafty crew, get them excited for the big day by spending time together on a Back-to-School project. Red Ted Art has a popular round-up of back-to-school craft ideas to get school spirit soaring.
5. Make the First Day Extra Special
Create a tradition of great fanfare on the first day of school! This doesn’t mean you must spend hours planning menus and creating DIY decorations. It just means adding extra TLC to the day to make it exciting and memorable. Here are some simple ideas you can do each year:
- Get up earlier to set a pretty breakfast table with fresh flowers and a favorite breakfast you don’t typically serve on a weekday morning.
- Have each child pose for a first-day-of-school photo you can save in a special photo album. Take it up a notch by having your child hold a small sign or chalkboard marked with the date and a personal note.
- Pack a special lunchbox treat with a note reminding the recipient that you are thinking of them all day.
- Pick up a special after-school snack, such as these Chocolate Coconut Graham Crackers, which take good ole graham crackers to a new level. Take time out of your day to sit with your child after they get off the school bus to hear the highlights of the big day.
6. First Day Celebration Dinner
Celebrate the successful return to school with a special dinner. This school night tradition can help ease the first-day jitters and provide something for kids to look forward to after their first day.
- Let your child pick their favorite meal for dinner.
- Use the time to discuss the highlights and any challenges of the first day.
- Consider a fun dessert or a family movie night to end the day on a high note.
7. Plan a Back-to-School Family Fun Day
Plan a special family-friendly day before school starts to ease the transition from summer to the new school season.
- Choose a fun activity that the whole family enjoys, such as a trip to the zoo, a picnic in the park, or a day at an amusement park.
- Use this day to relax, bond, and make positive memories before the school routine kicks in.
- This tradition can help reduce anxiety levels and create a sense of excitement for the upcoming school year.
By incorporating these traditions, you can help reduce back-to-school scaries and first-day jitters and make returning to school a positive experience for the whole family.
One more tradition to start (just for mom and dad): The occasional night out! Find a trusted date night babysitter at UrbanSitter.
