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What didn’t I think of that – memorable first day of school ideas?! Create memories they will cherish with these First Day of School Ideas. Back to school printables, first day of school photo ideas, activities for kids and new family traditions you will repeat yearly.

Do I address what a crazy year 2020 has been or move on and act like all of us didn’t experience a terrible end of the year? While going back to school is always a milestone, this year is especially special. Celebrate the start of a new school year with these memorable First Day of School Ideas. We bet many of back to school ideas will become annual family traditions!

How do you start the first day of school?

Starting the first day of school can really establish the rest of the school year. It’s the fist day for re-establishing routines and it’s important to link those routines to positive feelings. The first day of school is very important because the feeling you child has walking through their classroom door can really set the tone for the rest of the year. Do they establish the feeling they love this day? Do they establish the feeling they like their teacher? Do they establish the feeling of self-confidence?

How do we celebrate the first day of school?

Living for the moment is important. Treasuring precious time with family and friends and looking for activities for bonding create a good first day of school experience. Celebrate the first day of school with a fun back to school treasure hunt to collect school supplies. Take a yearly first day of school photo. Eat a tasty first day of school snack when you get home. After school or after dinner, go for a first day of school ice cream treat. If the budget it tight, run to the grocery store and grab a cheap ice cream novelty box and take an evening walk to enjoy it. You can talk about the first day of school activities your child experienced at school!

First Day of School Traditions

You might find yourself asking, what are some (really awesome) school traditions? Back to School traditions are are first day of school ideas you want to continue and keep consistent every year. These can include first day of school lunches, first day of school photos, DIY crafts, back to school printables and mores.  Start with a couple ideas and build on them year after year. You can always hault back to school activities you don’t want to stick for future years.

Love family traditions? Some of our birthday family traditions can be easily transferred into back to school ideas for the first day. Don’t forget these end of the year traditions too!

First Day of School Lunch

Make their first bite special with a First Day of School bento lunch box. Add a sweet Back to School Lunch Note. | Must Have Mom

Balloon Avalanche

This is one of those first day of school and birthday traditions you can use either way. We always keep balloons and streamers in our gift supply area. Whip it together when the kids go to bed and they will wake up to a pleasant first day surprise. | Side Tracked Mom (no longer active)

School Gitters Necklace

Have a nervous Nancy? This first day jitter glitter can go to school with your child on a necklace or can be sprinkled on them the night before school. | The DIY Mommy

German School Cones

Adopt a First Day of School German Tradition. Make these adorable DIY Schultüte, or school cones. Fill your homemade Schultute with treats and school supplies to make the start of school sweet for little ones. | Frog Prince Paperie

You can also purchase German School Cones.

Have a huge first day of school bus greeting. Host a water balloon or a silly string fight! Have a barrel of silly string and silly string guns. Gather the neighbors at the bus stop. | Source – Bower Power Blog

First Day of School Photo Ideas

There are so many first day of school photo ideas and we share many that have free downloads in our Back to School Printables post. For this list of First Day of School Photo Ideas, we are taking them outside the box. Instead of First Day of School Signs you can download, we are finding items you have to craft and create.

Sidewalk Chalk Photo

Spell it out on the driveway. This first day of school sidewalk chalk art is easy and adorable. Think you can continue it through 12th grade? | Blue Cricket Design (no longer active)

Reoccurring Photo

Create a reoccurring DIY Photo in Photo first day of school idea. Starting kindergarten year your child will hold no photo. Each consecutive year, your child will hold the previous years first day of school photo and you can watch your child grow. This will take planning ahead as you need to order the print. We recommend ordering from CanvasHQ. | She’s Making Cards (no longer active)

First Day of School T-Shirt Photo

This is an extra special idea your child will grow into. This DIY Back-to-School Shirt with Handprints for Every Grade! You can make your own first day of school shirt (with a silhouette cameo and iron) or you can pick up a handprint first day of school shirt on Etsy. | Where the Smiles Have Been

First Day of School Banner Photo

Announce a new school year with a colorful DIY First Day of School Banner. | Make it My Own

Balloon Photo

Using a white balloon. colorful stickers, and balloon sticks, write the school grade and year on a balloon! | Design Improvised

First Day of School Printables

These First Day of School free printables are helpful in creating memorable family traditions.

Time Capsule Printable

Conduct a school interview. Mark the changes school year with these yearly interview school printables fitting for kids from pre-school through high school. Add them all to a notebook or scrapbook for a printable time capsule!

Honorable mention at Mortiz Fine Designs

Back to School Breakfast Printables

Celebrate the first day a back to school breakfast with this free printable school table place setting. | The Real Housewife of Fresno (first day of school breakfast) & A Girl and a Glue Gun (table printables)

Back to School Supply Scavenger Hunt

Get the kids excited and have little fun collecting school supplies with a Back to School Scavenger hunt! 20 fun Back to School Themed treasure hunt riddles. This at home scavenger hunt leads them through a series of clues to collect their back to school supplies.

DIY Time Capsule

Make a printable Back to School Time Capsule. This adorable pencil time capsule is made with a Pringles can. | Aimee Ferre

Back to School Minute to Win it Games

Host a family game night with a Minute To Win It Back To School Edition Printable. You can also take a look at our list of Minute to Win It Game Night Ideas. | My Digital Creations.

Back to School Minute to Win it Games Printable Set

Classic Minute to Win It PDF Printable

Summer Party Minute to Win it with Water Printable

First Day of School Activities

Make going back to school to school exciting with memorable first day activities for kids.

Back to School Party

Get everyone together with a Back to School Party. So many beautiful tablescape ideas and goodies to welcome the first day of school. | The Sits Girls

First Day of School Ice Cream

When the school bell rings, bring the kids to get ice cream. This has been a tradition we have continued for years.

Encouragement Post It Notes

Begin a tradition of kindness and start the first day off right by hanging a positive affirmation sticky note each day. Add these messages as the days go on until they fill your child’s mirror. | Source

Backpack Fairy

Have a visit from the backpack fairy. Leave your backpack in a designated spot the night before school and in the morning the back to school fairy will leave a special gift! | Blissful Roots

Paper Chain Countdown

And before the first bell rings, start a countdown. Perhaps build each day with a special bucket list on the calendar. Make a paper chain with a different activity for each day until the night before school. | Brassy Apple

Back to School Printables

Take a look at these Back to School Printables – our favorite is “If you give a teacher a cookie” as a sweet treat on the first day of school. Pin to Pinterest.

School Year Traditions

Save for later these End of the Year Activities and Ideas. Pin to Pinterest on your School Board!

WHAT’S TRENDING? Looking for a few engaging activities? Grab Minute to Win it Games – Traditional, Holiday, Group, and more! Use these fun activities in the office, classroom, or at your next birthday party.