I have always been big on trying to establish traditions with my family. Last weekend I stayed at my sister’s house for a night so that she and her husband could get away for the first time in almost six years without kids and I realized that traditions don’t have to be “big” They just have to be meaningful to your family! I loved that as soon as her kids woke up Saturday morning they KNEW it was Saturday and that they could eat their breakfast in the family room while watching cartoons!
- Image Credit: Nie Nie Dialogues
The summer before my daughter started kindergarten, I read on NieNie Dialogues about her fabulous Back to School feast for her kids. I’m not quite as creative (or ambitious) as she is, but I decided to start this tradition in our house. My kids have been asking me about it for a few days now. We have one of their favorite meals (so far it has been homemade macaroni and cheese four years running now!) and talk about goals, fears and the upcoming year in general.
First Day of School Picture Ideas: Since my daughter started kindergarten, I’ve always taken a picture of her holding the date and her grade. My son starts kindergarten this year and I plan to do this again, but then I’m going to save that picture for the end of the school year and I’ll take another picture on the last day of school with each kid holding their first day of school picture like this one I found on Call Me Crafty Al!
- Image Credit: Call Me Craft Al
Letters – Write your child a letter at the start of the school year telling them all the things you love about them, the things you hope they’ll learn that year, or the things that they love at that point in time. Save all of the letters and make them into a book for graduation! I am planning on starting this tradition this year! When they head off to college, you can send them with their book of letters and another letter!
- Image Credit: Skip to My Lou
Heart Attack – Cover your child’s door with hearts telling them all the things you love about them to start their day off right on the first day of school. This is also great for Valentine’s Day, birthdays, or just because!
- Image Credit: Happiness Is
Back to School Fairy – Have the Back to School Fairy visit and bring a new book, a journal, or school supplies!
Back to School Fashion show – I can remember doing this as a kid and now I love to see my kids parade around in their new school clothes while we try to choose a first day of school outfit and outfits for the rest of the week!
Don’t forget to add a special “I love you” or “Have a great day” note in their lunch boxes! That’s something else my daughter looks forward to each year!
What are YOUR back to school traditions?
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More from my site
- Back to school round-up!
- Sears: Save 20% on shoes + get free shipping and 5% cash back!
- Back to School: School supply round-up for the week of 8/14
- Back to School Shopping Tax FREE Holidays 2014!
- Disney Store Back to School Deals: Backpacks for $15 and lunch totes for $10
- Back to School Deals for the week of 7/12
Our Back-To-School Tradition is the night before school, we go to this really cool ice cream place about a 1/2 hr from us. It is a very country setting, and on a huge hill, and you can see fields and mountains and trees for miles. We go there, and order HUGE banana splits, and sit on their HUGE outdoor deck, and watch the sunset. Kind of like the sun is “setting” on summer, and we say goodbye to summer. We only go to this ice cream place this one time each year so it doesn’t get boring. The kids love it, and so do I.
Lori – that is an awesome idea! I love it!