The first day of school is always a big deal! You’ve spent a lot of time preparing for the school year, and now that all the curriculum has been picked, the school supplies have been bought, and the lessons have been planned, it’s finally time to start school! It’s that time of year where many families and kids are excited about all the new experiences coming their way.
But what do you do for students who aren’t excited?
There are many ways to help students transition from Summer to school! Take a look at some of our top ideas for building the excitement and anticipation of the school year and don’t forget to download the free printable with more fun ideas and tips.
- Let each of your kids set up their own workspace, create their own schedules, and decorate their planners. Getting them involved gives them a feeling of responsibility and like they have some control over their organization.
- Start your first day of school with a light workload so that your students are not stressed and overwhelmed about what they need to cover every day. My favorite was when we started with a “syllabus day,” where we took some introduction time for each course.
- Make physical activity a part of your everyday activities! Whether it is taking a break for “recess,” going for a run, or holding your own PE class, taking out a part of the day to exercise and have fun will help keep your students on track for the rest of the day, week, and school year! Some ideas for recess include:
- Taking a Swim: Just getting into the water is great, there are tons of games that you can play, or you can even turn it into a personal swim lesson. Plus then it feels like you’re still enjoying the summer months.
- Playing Four Square: Four Square was one of my favorite games growing up! All it takes is a ball, some chalk, and a good sense of sportsmanship!
- Hopscotch: If you used chalk for Four Square, also try drawing out a hopscotch court! Make sure to use a rock and see who can get the furthest!
- Do some studying and reading outside! If it’s a really nice day out, make your school day even more fun by doing things outside! When I was growing up, my mom would let me and my sisters do our reading outside in the grass! The time flew by, and we were exposed to lots of Vitamin D! Just make sure to always wear sunscreen!
- Cook a special breakfast. Pancakes are always a classic, eggs are filled with protein, and French Toast is always fun because you can dress it up with whipped cream, fruits, or even cream cheese! Hopefully, an exciting breakfast will lead to an exciting first day of school. Here are some of my favorite breakfast recipes:
- Take a “first day of school” picture! You can write their year of school on a piece of paper, on a whiteboard, or even get fun shirts with their school year on it! When your student finishes high school, you will then have a collage of all their first days of school, and you can see how they’ve changed over the years!