Four Fun Back-to-School Traditions

The pencils are sharpened, the crayon boxes labeled, and everybody has a new pair of gym shoes. Looks like it’s time to go back to school!

Whether your kids are excited or dreading their triumphant return, you can help ease the transition from summer to school with some fun family activities.

Here are four ways to celebrate the upcoming school year and build memories year upon year.

1. School supply shopping date—Take each child on an individual date to select school supplies with Mom and/or Dad. Afterward, go out for lunch or ice cream. This special shopping event not only treats each child to some individual attention; it also eliminates the chaos of shopping for multiple students and grade levels all at once.

2. School year theme song—As a family, choose a song to serve as your theme song for the year. Look for something upbeat and inspiring such as Mandisa’s “Overcomer” or Matthew West’s “Amen.” Program alarm clocks to play the song, turn it up on the drive to school, or play it before every sports game or big math test. The song can be a reminder that your family is unified and supporting one another through every joy and challenge.

3. Test run donut party—I first learned this idea from a mom friend when my firstborn daughter was in preschool. The day before school starts set alarms for the school-day waking hour. Everybody should get up and ready for the day as if they were going to school. Load all the kids into the car and drive to the school parking lot—where you’ll meet with other parents and friends to eat donuts for breakfast!

4. First-day dinner switch—Celebrate a successful first day of school with a special dinner, either at home or at a restaurant, and eat dessert first! Even the kids who are grumpiest about going back to school will have something to look forward to at the end of the day.

As kids and parents alike gear up for another year of textbooks and extracurriculars, let’s remember—God goes with our children everywhere they go, and He is constantly unfolding a special plan for their lives. Each new school year is another opportunity to watch our kids grow further into the people God designed them to be. And that is a beautiful transformation indeed!

Blessings,
Becky Kopitzke
beckykopitzke.com