August marks the end of the summer and the beginning of the school year. Make it a fun and memorable time by incorporating traditions that can help ease any anxieties your children may have about this big step. Here are 7 back to school traditions around Birmingham that your family will look forward to every year.
1. First Day of School Eve Celebration
On the last day of summer, celebrate the summer fun you had (maybe admire your finished Summer Bucket List?) and the upcoming school year. This could be as simple as the family’s favorite dinner or dessert, or you could invite friends, add decor and games, and make it an annual gathering.
2. Special Breakfast
Do something different to start the day. Set up a waffle, pancake, or yogurt bar with toppings like fruit, nuts, and granola. You could go big with eggs, bacon, and homemade cinnamon rolls. No time to cook? Stop by Waffle House or Chick-Fil-A on the way to school. Be sure to keep it healthy and include protein to avoid a sugar rush and keep hunger at bay until lunch time.
3. Fun Music
Get your kids excited for the day by playing fun music before and school. Put on your family’s favorite tunes or find a back to school themed playlist.
4. First day of school pictures and questions
We take pictures on the first day of school (when I can remember-we may have skipped a year or two!). Many families have a sign they change and use year after year. HERE is one that we’ve created to share with you.
Some families also ask their kids back to school questions to include with their picture. It’s a good way to remember all the sweet details of each year. Good questions to include are:
- What school are you going to?
- Who is your teacher?
- What do you want to be when you grow up?
- What is your favorite color?
- What is your favorite food?
- What do you like to do?
- What is your favorite book?
- What is your favorite song?
5. Kindness Challenge
For a kindness challenge, everyone is sent to school on a quest to do something kind and tell the family about it at dinner. It’s a good thing to do any day, but on the first day of school, a kindness challenge sets the tone for what is important to your family, helps your child start off on the right foot at school, and gives them something to help take their mind off any nervous feelings.
6. After School Treat
At the end of the long school day, nothing beats an after school treat. Invite friends, or keep it a small affair with just the two of you if you know your little one will need some quiet time to decompress after a big day. Try one of Birmingham’s best spots for ice cream or cookies to really treat your star student.
7. High, Low, Buffalo
High, low, buffalo is a fun way to talk about your day, and it helps children discuss and process their feelings. Each person takes a turn telling their “high” (best part of the day,) “low,” (worst part of the day,) and “buffalo,” (something funny that happened that day.) This is a great thing to do at the end of every day, especially when dinner conversation stalls out. The more you do it, the more everyone pays attention to the details in their day, and the easier it will become.
What back to school tradition does your family love?
