The end of summer break is quickly approaching! Make the transition back to school exciting and memorable for the kids with First Day of School Activities that are unique and exciting! Don’t normally celebrate? Start a new tradition and try some of these fun ideas with your kids. Some are as easy as a special breakfast. But if you’re interested in trying something a little more unique, we’ve got some great ideas for you, too.
First Day of School Activities | 15 Ways to Make the Day Memorable
Shower Them with Morning Affirmations
Grab an extra pad of sticky notes on your back-to-school-supply shopping trip and use them to plaster their bathroom mirror with positive affirmations: “You’ve got this!” “You’re going to do great!” “I’m proud of you!” “You are going to ROCK ___ grade!” Love notes are always a great way to start your morning. If the bathroom is a shared space, stick them to their door. You can add some crepe paper streamers to push it over the top.
Throw an After School Bash
My friend Stephanie always kills it with first day of school activities! She hosts an after-school celebration, Back to-School-Bash, every year. They decorate with school supplies and everything is themed, including the cupcakes decorated to look like apples. No matter what the first day brought, her girls look forward to coming home to a party every year.
Fill the Tummies with a Special Breakfast
Start the school day off on the right foot with a special breakfast. Smiley face eggs and bacon, pancakes with sprinkles, cinnamon rolls, a build-your-own waffle bar, or even stopping at your favorite donut shop. Make it a little extra and add a numbered birthday candle for the grade they are entering. Light that baby, and make a wish for a great school year!
If you have a large bus stop or a neighborhood with a lot of kids, start a Back-To-School Breakfast Celebration for the neighborhood kids. Make it a simple pitch-in and invite the other families from the area. The kids get breakfast and a memorable send-off on their first day.
Conduct a New School Year Interview
New School Year Interviews or video diaries are such sweet keepsakes to freeze the moment in time and list current favorites. I love seeing what the kids say they want to be when they grow up, and how their interests change over time. (While you are at it, print off a blank teacher interview to send to school with your child. This will come in handy to know likes and dislikes for holidays and teacher appreciation week.)
Gift No Worries Jewelry
As always, there can be some normal back-to-school jitters. I love the idea of a back-to-school gift that may help ease their worry a bit. These matching jewelry options are sweet for littles who may be struggling with the change. You can also DIY and braid your own matching “Never Alone” bracelets with your bigger kids.
Blow Up Balloons
Balloons make any occasion special. Every year, for my kids’ birthdays, I spend the night before blowing up bags full of balloons to dump around their room. They love it and look forward to it every year. This tradition works well for back-to-school, too! If the idea of filling their room makes you out of breath just thinking about it, pick up some helium balloons the night before and have them waiting, tied to their chair at the breakfast table.
Back-to-School Fashion Show
You shelled out the dough for those new school clothes—you should put them to work! Host a fashion show the day before they go back to school. Clear an area they can use for a catwalk and let them pick the tunes to set the mood. The kids will love showing off their stylin’ selections with a living room fashion show, and it will help get them hyped for the next day. It can also prevent any early morning catastrophes by trying everything on to make sure everything works.
Chalk the Walk
Head outside early to write “good luck” and “have a great day” messages in sidewalk chalk, leading out to the car or bus stop. They will love reading the words of encouragement as they start their school day. One of my son’s favorite first day of school activities is to have a chalk obstacle course waiting for them to complete from the bus stop to home after school.
Capture First Day Photos
First day photos are the most popular back-to-school tradition, and there are so many varieties. From funny family shots (Bye, Felicia!) to the ones of littles in their oversized “class of…” t-shirts. (Have you seen the ones where they add their handprint on the back every year? Adorable!)
If you are sticking with the sweet shot from the front steps with the grade-level prints, consider switching it up. Let the kids decorate their own signs this year! It allows them to show their personality and will be a fun memory to come back to later.
Pack a Special Lunch
Pack a special lunch for the first day. It doesn’t have to be Pinterest-worthy. It can be special just by packing some of their favorite foods and snacks and adding a personal note or one of these fun printable jokes.
Sweet After School Snack
Everyone deserves a special treat when making it through their first day! Head out for ice cream or DIY your very own sundae bar with all the toppings! Bake a favorite treat, or find a new recipe to make a special Back-to-School Snack together.
Back-To-School Splash Down
Still full of energy when they get home? Burn off some of that extra energy with a Back-to-School Splash Down! Hit up the pool or splash pad—if it is an option in your area—or grab a sprinkler, water balloons, or squirt guns. Go all out! And don’t be afraid to get wet. It’s even more memorable when mom and dad get in on the action.
Craft it Up
Making a special gift for their new teacher can help get them excited for the first day, especially if they can’t wait to gift it. This personalized crayon wreath is adorable, and something you can work on together. Plus, you can take advantage of school supplies being super cheap right now.
Silly String Surprise
Get the whole bus stop in on first day of school activities! Greet them when they get off the bus with a blast of silly string, bubble guns, or confetti launchers. Make sure you can dish it AND take it, though, and get each child their own can of silly string!
Cuddle Time
First day of school got everyone tuckered out? Sometimes the best way to celebrate is by ordering delivery and snuggling on the couch with your little one’s favorite book or movie. This might be just the wind-down you all need. And remember, they won’t be this little forever!
What are your favorite first day of school activities? Share your comments and pictures of first day of school activities with us below or tag us on social media using #PLAYindy. Follow Indy with Kids on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest for all of the best ideas and things to do with kids in Indy!
Summer is not over yet! Keep on checking off items from your Summer Bucket List!
Here is a list of things to do every day in August!
