Homeschool Back-to-School Traditions

The start of the school year is almost here and with it comes strong reactions. Many houses are divided with excited, go-getting parents on one side and reluctant, summer-loving kids on the other. If you are looking to get your students on board and excited to start the year, you simply must make it special. Celebrate the start of the school year with food, friends, and fellowship and you will bring a smile to even the most reluctant homeschooler. Give them something to look forward too with a few homeschool back-to-school traditions.

8 Family Friendly Homeschool Back-to-School Traditions (From My Family to Yours!)

1. Meal Planning– Allow the kids to help you plan a week’s worth of their food favorites. From breakfast to lunch to dinner, they will be fueled to start the school year and look forward to each meal. Here are a few great meal planning printables and breakfast, lunch, and dinner ideas to get you started.
2. School Shopping: Everyone loves new school supplies! Take your kids on a trip to your favorite school supply store armed with a supply list and budget. Not only will they be excited to start using their supplies, but they will also practice budgeting and math skills!
3. Paper Presents: Who doesn’t like a surprise gift? Take a few well-chosen school supplies that fit your learner’s personality (fun sandwich containers, special pencils, stickers to decorate notebooks, etc.) and wrap them up. Start each day of your first week of school with a present for each child. They will jump out of bed to see what goodies they get to enjoy each day!
4. Celebration Breakfast: Make each morning special by serving up a different, fun breakfast. Think pancakes in the shape of their grade, oatmeal with a topping bar, or homemade cinnamon rolls. The smell of something sweet cooking will bring them running to the table.
5. Back to School Binder: Here is a fun way to celebrate the start of the year and hold school memories and photos: a back to school binder. Purchase or upcycle a 3-inch binder and spend time on the first day of school having each child decorate the cover with creative materials like paints, duct tape, washi tape, etc. Keep the binder with your child’s school supplies and add pictures, art projects, and milestones throughout the year.
6. Study Buddy: Give your little ones a friend to start school. Purchase a small stuffed animal to be their “study buddy” for the year.
7. Back to School Time Capsule: Commemorate the year by creating a time capsule filled with pictures from the first day and predictions about the upcoming year. You can even bury it so that no one is tempted to peek at it throughout the year. Fill out this beginning of the school year questions worksheet to include in the capsule. Be sure to open it at the end of the year to see what predictions were correct!
8. Party: Motivate your learners to do well the first week by setting goals and celebrating achieving them at the end of the week with a fun back-to-school party! Goals can include getting up on time, not complaining, completing work, journaling daily, etc. Make it about your students and their individual needs. Offer awards for the best attitude, most punctual, most excited, etc. during the party. Of course, you’ll have to finish with a sweet treat! Try this giant school bus cookie!

Getting the best start to the school year is important to every homeschooling parent. By making your first back-to-school week unique and special, you will be on your way to a wonderful year filled with homeschool memories and successes.
What are your homeschool back-to-school traditions? Tell us in a comment below!