Back to School Preparation for ALL THE Grades

August 06, 2024

As a mother who has been through 5 kindergarten first days ... and five of every other age too, except 11th and 12th... I have some ideas to help your back to school season be simple, effective, memorable, and dare I say FUN?

If you're the gift type person, these look SUPER fun for a Homeschool Uniform.

Looks like they have Pre-K through 6th grade, and walmart.com has some fun ones too! (Plus, people will stop asking your kid what GRADE he's in, lol!)

Want something more "Homeschool Centric?" Here are our favorite shirts. (I don't make any money on these, I just REALLY like them - oh, and the family at Retro Outfitters behind them - you guessed it, also homeschoolers!)

Preparing for Back to school for ANY AGE:

#1 - Prepare to enjoy the new year! Prepare to recognize that each year, just like in parenting, each new school year builds on the pervious one. So as you add little things in, keep it little! Special doesn't have to mean extravagant.

Preschoolers: All you need to do is make sure the space is clean. You don't need curriculum or supplies. You'll read to them, answer questions, and involve them in your daily life. Love of learning above ALL things! Other than that, make a plan to go to the library. No supplies needed - Library cards, clean space, and yummy fun snacks. We always did baby carrots with dips, tortillas, and cheese sticks. I upped it to individual packs of apple sauce, and then we did CINNAMON apple sauce. Oh yeaaaah! FANCY!

As an aside AGAIN - don't make it TOO BIG - you have to keep up the traditions for the next TWELVE SEPTEMBERS!

Elementary School (around 8 years old or so.) - We began official "school time" at this point. The big tradition on the first day of the new year is to print out a sign that has their name, grade, and year on it. The first activity, EVERY YEAR was to color the sign, and get your picture taken in front of the front door. Individually and then as a group. I am SO glad we did this every year. I mean, look how cute! These two sweeties are the only ones left at home these days. They are 16 and 17 years old now. See, it DOES go fast! Not shown are my three now adult kiddos. In the same year, 2012, we had a 2nd grader, 3rd grader, and 5th grader! It was a busy season!

Remember, we ADDED this bit to our already established ritual of cleaning the space the weekend before, shopping for back to school snacks, and going to the library. I try and have the pages already printed, markers on the table, and everything is already there on the clean table. One year, we went for donuts, and took the pictures there. That was so fun, being a bit spectacle for the donut shop workers as these five cute little kids took their "first day of school pictures" with their favorite donut flavors!

Back to School for Middle Schoolers: Discuss the process and the preparation! What are they expecting? Is there a gift they think they're getting? This age is inherently touchy, since so many new things are happening in their minds and to their bodies. Remove as many unknowns as possible. IF there are new classes, co-ops, sports, or clubs, get them ready by taking them to the locations the week before it starts. Girls especially will want to know where the rest rooms are in any new building. These small things help kids to keep a positive outlook, and put their best foot forward to the new venture, whether it's 6th grade or 8th grade. They have opinions. STRONG ONES. Let them voice it to you! The make as MANY of those option become a reality for them. You may have no idea on what the best memories and traditions are in their lives. This age typically wants something new to have too - whether it's a new pen, a new back pack, etc, get them something shiny and new!

Back to school for High Schoolers! The biggest preparation is ON YOU, momma! Prepare to be sad. It's a loss, they are getting ready to go away, fly, launch, whatever the word is... let them go, and cry it out away from them. Late at night, recognize your loss. It's ok. Cry cry cry - pre-mourn the events that are coming. That way, you can truly embrace the happiness on the day the big event comes through. Other than that, just let them take the reigns and discuss all the things that need to be prepared for. They are young adults. They've got this. But you may not have it together. Prepare for that!

Want to WATCH this message? I said a LOT more in this quick video with my quackers in the back ground here (share away with friends who are prepping their home for the new year!)

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