COVID UPDATE: Whether you are sending your child back to school, doing at-home learning, virtual learning, or a hybrid – all of these ideas still apply and are maybe more important than ever!
- Set up Expectations – this will be a learning process for the new year and may need to change as things shift.
- Celebrate the Start of School (Back to School Feast) – Even more important to make the transition from summer to school exciting for your kids!
- Back to School Email to the teacher – Let them know if you have other kids on different schedules, if you will be home with them or if they will be with a grandparent or childcare provider, etc. Communication is key!
Summer is coming to an end! We had an amazing summer filled with adventures and travels and bonding and memory-making. But now the REAL adventure begins – Back to School time! If anyone ever asks me what my biggest adventure is, I would say PARENTING! And with that comes dealing with back to school and the issues surrounding new subjects, new teachers, and new relationships that our children have to navigate! I have a daughter entering 9th grade – hello High School – and a son entering 6th grade.
I have found that when I prep my children before school starts or close to when it starts (if your kids have already started it is not too late to have a special family night and discussion) that they return to the school year with more confidence and grace! Here are a few ways that our family helps to ease back into school…and help them find JOY in their school years!
PLUS scroll to the end for a few of our favorite back to school items that we just cannot live without!
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1. BACK TO SCHOOL EXPECTATIONS
I can remember my excitement for the first day of school every year! I want my kids to have that same excitement but I also want to instill in them the values that makes them the best they can be in all areas of life! I am proud of how they excel in school, but no school grade could ever replace a kind heart or a character based on integrity. I hope to instill strong values in my children and help them become leaders and people of faith and grace throughout their life. So we help with this by having discussions leading up to the beginning of the school year as to what it means to be a good student, a good friend, to respect others, to have manners in class, and so on. I feel that by having these conversations throughout the days leading up to school that they are better prepared and reminded to be a good classroom citizen!
2. BACK TO SCHOOL FEAST
In 2015 we joined the fun tradition of having a Back to School Feast (aka Back to School Dinner) to welcome in the new school year! (I wish I could take credit for this idea but many families do it and not sure who started it but I LOVE this tradition!). This tradition creates a theme for the year that they memorize and learn to better understand and focuses on the strength of character in my children to help them focus on what is important in life as they deal with challenges and relationships associated with a new school year! It really is a special night and something both kids look forward to each year! We designate a night before school starts for this special feast. The kids wear crowns to remind them of their worth and they dress up to also be reminded of what a special day this is! Jon and I sit down before the feast to choose a family theme for the school year that will help address our specific kid’s needs for the coming year. This evening is also a great opportunity to take fancy photos of the kids before the new school year starts! Past themes have been:
“HAVE COURAGE AND BE KIND”
“I CAN DO HARD THINGS”
“LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE”
Last year was…
They each get a framed copy for their desk so they can be reminded daily of their focus for the year.
3. BACK TO SCHOOL LETTER TO THE TEACHER
I love to write a letter at the beginning of the year to each of my childrens’ teachers introducing my child and including facts about their personality, strengths and weaknesses, learning styles, concerns and fun facts about them and our family. I feel that since parent/teacher conferences or back to school nights are usually not for a month or later after school starts, that this is an easy way to start a conversation with my child’s teacher about who they are and a subtle way to advocate for them if they do have specific needs.
4. BACK TO SCHOOL PRAYER
Every year we have a special prayer for each child before they start school. Usually we do this on the same day as the Back to School Feast. We have a family prayer and a traditional back-to-school Father’s Blessings. A Father’s Blessing is a blessing of guidance and comfort and when school starts is a great time for fathers to bless their children with this comfort and strength. It’s a wonderful way to start the school year and a reminder that their earthly Father and Heavenly Father are both there for them any day of the year! I am so blessed to have a husband who can give these blessings and two wonderful children who bless my life daily!
And bonus content…reliable and/or fun back to school items you might not have heard of but we can’t live without!
Cube Timer – Need to time reading, instrument practice or even chores! This digital timer is an easy timer to use for all ages!
School Planners for All Ages – They have the cutest planners for ages 7 and up! A great way to teach your child or teen how to be organized!
Erasable Highlighters! – These rock our world! You can highlight areas of your kids homework they need to improve and then they can erase it before they turn it in!
Mackenzie Hot & Cold Containers – These are the best (and CUTEST!) containers to give variety to your child’s lunch! And you can customize. From PB! PB Teen has bigger ones for older kids too!
Personality Tees – Check out kids websites for shirts that shout out personality! Some speak of Kindness, you can find ones for horse lovers, book lovers, etc. These shirts that reflect a child’s personality really adds confidence to their day!
Charging Dock – With your child’s school ipad or kindle and all the tablets and phones in your family, this will serve as a great charging and collecting point so you can monitor what tech gadgets are being used as well. No more lost phones or cluttered cables.
These are such wonderful traditions to have. I love that you start encouraging your children to be leaders and good citizens. I teach first grade, and it makes my heart so happy that your children have a great support system and lots of encouragement. School is so difficult, and you are setting them up for success. Thanks for the inspiration and encouragement.