Back to school traditions.

Shopping for school supplies was my most favorite summer activity and it must have been my mom's as well because the first year all of my siblings were out of school she called my all distraught. Suddenly it became all so real to her that all of her babies were grown up.
I love the idea of 12 Days of Kindergarden )pr whatever grade). I think it is so important to start getting kids in the mindset and schedule for going back to school so that they adjust more easily to the change of pace.

Shopping for school supplies was my most favorite summer activity and it must have been my mom's as well because the first year all of my siblings were out of school she called my all distraught. Suddenly it became all so real to her that all of her babies were grown up.
I love the idea of 12 Days of Kindergarden (or whatever grade). I think it is so important to start getting kids in the mindset and schedule for going back to school so that they adjust more easily to the change of pace.

Since my son goes to school for only half of a day, we started a tradition this year of going out to eat for lunch on the first day. He got to pick the place and his grandparents met us there. He loved it!!!

Our back to school tradition is on the first day of school (which is usually a short day) I make a special chocolate chip pancake breakfast for the kids then when I pick them up we head to the beach for a picnic and talk about our goals for the school year. My oldest is in grade 3 this year so I am making him a goals and dreams book to write down his goals for the year. It's so cool to listen to what they want to do and try to accomplish!

I don't have children yet but my friend shared a tradition with me that's kind of fun. On the first day of school, she takes her boys out to dinner. On the last day of school, they have ice cream for breakfast!

I wake up extra early on the 1st day of school to bake homemade chocolate chip cookies for my 3 kids....even if only one of them really goes to school right now......the other two go to preschool, but it's still special for everyone. And what a better way to come home from your first day and have homemade chocolate chip cookies waiting for you? I also take the first day & last day of school pictures.....so much fun! Can't believe I have to take the first day pictures so soon!

Wow, we have a tradition of shopping for new shoes,clothes...school supplies. Taking a picture on the 1st day in the same spot on the front porch. Breakfast is my family recipe of biscuits with chocolate syrup..I make it for my kids...my mom made it for me..my grandmother made it for my mom and it keeps going to my great grandmother....
The night before is their favorite dinner.
I have 2 children going to college and 2 still at home--even the college kids want the traditions!

I LOVE the ideas of blessings for each child and of taking a picture of their little hands! (I'm crying my eyes out over this.) I'm so blessed to now have my own three children (all in preschool) after having to celebrate my love for back-to-school-supply-shopping as a teacher for the past 10 years. Aside from the supply shopping, we always serve meals for our children on a RED PLATE (Red Envelope carries special ceramic RED PLATES) on special occasions -- birthdays, adoption "arrival" days and first days of school. This year we went out for frozen yogurt with some friends who recently moved back to Phoenix from Eugene the night before school started and went out for dinner with these same friends after the first day of school. I also like sending my children to school with a little something for their teacher -- this year it was sugar free pomegranite "FulfillMINTS" -- very yummy mints.

Wow! You don't have supply lists already? They've been out here for at least a month, if not more! It's that silly?
I always loved having the 'first day of school' special outfit. My Mom always sewed our clothes (until she ran out of energy with all of us and time), but we were allowed to shop for one special outfit (shoes included) that we wore for our first day. I'd always look forward to looking my best, feeling special in my outfit and having pictures taken of what was a really special occassion for me AND my Mom. :)

We started a new tradition for my son,Noah who is going into grade 4. His birthday is in October and due to a few moves to new cities since he started school, it's tricky to get to know the kids quickly enough to know who he wanted to invite to his birthday so in an effort to get to know some of the kids outside of school (and their parents too... which facilitates playdates) we host a meet & greet party at our home. We make invitations and give them out to everyone in the class,even the teacher. Our first party was last year and we've just moved to Whitehorse Yukon (near Alaska) so we know very few people and we need to get to know everyone all over again. Noah's teacher last year said she'd never been invited to or heard of such an event and she loved it. It's a valuable way for the kids to bond with their teacher early in the year and to see him/her as more than just a teacher but also as a person too. I'm a very involved parent of a child who is easily bored in school so in an effort to keep him keen and inspired by school (even when he's bored) I try really hard to establish a relationship with his teacher right from day one to ensure the quality of education that I expect for my child. I'm sure some parents think I'm out of my mind to invite the whole class and their families to our home for the open house, but they are not all there at the same time and honestly, I'm genuinely interested in being invested in my kids and this is easy for me.

My son starts Kindergarten at the beginning of February (towards the end of Australia's summer) and to be honest, I hadn't even thought of what to do. You have all inspired me to make this a fun time for my little man and the whole family - thank you...

What I remember most was the first day of school picutres...we stood on the front step in our new clothes, new backpacks and perfect hair and my mom would take our picture. I love looking back on these and remember the excitement of the first day of school and all those great new school supplies.
And have you seen trapper keepers are back...and they look just like they did back then!
Laura

When I read your post, the tears rolled down my face. You are such an amazing woman that sparks so many positive emotions and generates reflections for all of us. You, your brother and sister loved school and could hardly wait to go. Adventures continue for all of us as well as for Simon. He will find his groove and your life will be enhanced with his growth. Love to you and your family. Dad

I know what you mean, I still love buying school supplies, now they are for my kids but everyone always needs a new notebook or two, and you need a new day-planner each schoolyear!

I have 2 ideas.....
I got this idea from a neighbor who was waiting at the bus stop in the afternoon. She made homemade sugar cookies that were decorated with frosting in the shapes of apples and bells. The apples signify back to school and the bells represent the school bell (from days past) calling the children back to school. She had a big plate of cookies and each kid (about 6) got a bell and an apple as they got off the bus at the end of the afternoon. I use a circle shape cookie cutter for the apples and a Christmas bell cookie cutter for the bells-- frosting with white or yellow icing with a silver ball (I think they are called dragees).
2nd idea...my best friend lives in Carmel, IN and she lives in a neighborhood that gather at the bus stop on the first day of school and have juice boxes and doughnuts. Everyone shows up--moms, dads, younger siblings, everyone. It is just like a regular party atmosphere! Everyone brings something like in a pot luck dinner. Makes for some great pictures as well as great memories!

I think I read this in a previous scrap magazine but LOVED the idea.
Have the kids stand in front of the front door or wherever and hold up how many fingers to represent what grade they are in. Like a 1st grader would hold up one finger, etc. My daughter is going into 4th grade and I started this tradition in 1st grade in front of the door.
I also take a picture of them in front of a tree.
Lisa

I know it is old fashion but I started this year a tradition of hot cholcoate chip cookies just out of the oven when the kiddos get off the bus!! They loved them!

On the first day of school I take a picture of my child holding up her fingers indicating which grade she is in.

Reading these posts has been bittersweet for me. I love hearing all of the warm and wonderful ideas and will definitely be picking some to put into place for my tow kids. Mine are age 10 and 12, and they love to shop! We usually make gift baskets for their new teachers, and fill them with cool classroom supplies. We decorate them with lots of my scrap stash stuff, ribbons, tags, etc and then when we find out who their teacher is we make a name tag last. The last 2 years, I have a new tradition of taking the whole week off, and we plan trips to the beach, shopping, movies and amusement park every single day. This year, the big bummer for me is that I will be out of town and NOT a part of it.... still taking the week before off to hang, so am really cherishing that tradition.
P.S. Ali I just got my CK Kit of the month and your papers are gorgeous... you are so talented! When I try to load the "play burshes" it says not compatible with PSE 5... so bummed coz it looks like a great brush set!
Barb

My daughters and I have many back to school traditions. The night before school starts we have a "spa" night complete with sparkling cider and candle-lit dinner. We talk about our goals for the new school year and gather all of the new school supplies and place them by the door. In the morning we take pictures in front of the house and we use the same spot for our last day of school pictures to compare how they have grown through out the year.