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It’s never too late to start back to school traditions that get your kids excited about ending the summer and heading back to school every year. The trick is to have something fun for them to look forward to. These are the things they’ll remember and it’ll be fun for the whole family.
1. Buy them a new book and include a note.
Each year on the first day of school, buy them a new book that they’re interested in and include a special note in the cover. Over the year they’ll have a collection of their favorite books and every single one of them is personalized with a fond memory.
2. Make a yearly time capsule.
Each year collect some of your kids’ current interests, recent photos and favorite items and store it away in a time capsule. Bury it or hide it away and open it up and the end of the school year or the beginning of next year and see how they’ve changed.
3. Make a Schultüte school cone.
An old German tradition is filling a paper cone with school supplies to get the kids excited about their first day of school. Grab some cute paper and fun school supplies to wrap it all up and the kids will love opening this gift on their first day.
4. Throw a back to school feast.
Cut out crowns for each of your kids and let them decorate the crowns before dinner. Prepare a special dinner and let them wear their crowns during dinner. This once-a-year tradition will make them excited to go back to school.
5. School supplies scavenger hunt.
Hide school supplies around the house and send your kids on a hunt to collect everything. Here’s a free printable for clues to go along with the scavenger hunt.
6. Decorate their door.
Grab some streamers and balloons and cover their door so they have a fun surprise when they wake up for the first day of school.
7. First day of school pictures.
Take a picture of your child on the first day of the school year and see how they change from year to year. Check out our list of FREE first day printables.
8. Make an after school treat.
Treat them with a giant cookie to top off their first day of school. It will be a great thing for them to look forward to at the end of the day. Get the recipe and make one of your own.
See more ideas on our Back to School Pinterest board.