Back to school time is always exciting and busy for kids and parents. There is so much thought and preparation that goes into a first day of school. In addition to back-to-school shopping for fall clothes and school supplies, we make a special effort to enjoy and capture those moments of the first day.
In our family, we have a tradition of having the kids pose with a homemade sign that reads “First Day of School.” Any nervousness they may have felt when they left that morning is replaced with giddiness and optimism. They are usually brimming over with stories about their classrooms, teachers, and friends, new and old. Then, we “toast” the year ahead with popsicles.
Traditions, like this, can help kids with big life transitions. The year we moved and the kids started at a new school in another state, the familiar routine of posing with “the sign” brought some comfort on an otherwise anxious day.
My collection of “first day” photos is getting bigger as my kids are growing up. Fortunately, they are still not too old to appreciate this tradition. These photos, as well as the others that I take throughout the school year, are just right for Tiny Prints’ adorable back-to-school supplies like personalized notebooks and labels for all their “stuff.”
Do you and your kids have any special back-to-school traditions?
Disclosure: Nicole was provided with a Tiny Prints gift card as a thank you for sharing her story with you.
Great article. I am already counting down the day to my son’s first day of “real” school (which is still a few years away). This sounds like a tradition that will end up being as important to the parents as to the kids. So cool that you’ll have all those back to school pictures to cherish!
I love the idea of a photo to capture the day. I have my daughter’s photo of her first day of preschool on my phone. The sign is a great addition I am going to add. I also love that there is a toast with popsicles to end the day.
I also loved Nicole’s popsicle idea! 😉
I take pictures of my daughter on her first day of school and make a photo collage out of them with the date, so I won’t forget! (She’s only been to pre-k and now kindergarten so far, but hey, a tradition has got to start somewhere, right?!)
That is such a great idea, Renee! So do you keep them all in a scrapbook? I’m terrible at organizing photos. I have a ton in boxes (if I even get them printed in the first place).