This post is brought to you by Kidsburgh and The Motherhood. All opinions are my own.
It’s hard to believe that we are approaching back to school already. The first day of school can be filled with excitement and even some anxiety. Or if you’re like me and you’re sending your youngest off to her first day of kindergarten, then there will be a ton of tears shed. Starting some first day of school traditions is a great way to ease the anxiety and make some fun memories to look back on.
We’re partnering with Kidsburgh to help you handle those first day of school jitters. Kidsburgh is my go-to online resource for kid-friendly events and activities in and around the Pittsburgh area. They also share a wide variety of topics relating to kids and family. Here are some great posts to dive into to help with transition into Kindergarten:
- 7 Practical Tips, Tricks, and tools to get kids ready for Kindergarten
- Back to School – How to make this year the best year yet!
Here are some of our favorite ways to ease the jitters of the first day of school and make it extra special for our kindergarteners!
Attend Back To School Night / Orientation
Your child’s elementary school will host a Back To School Night or a Kindergarten Orientation where you and your child can visit the school, meet the teachers, and tour the classroom. This will also be when you can see what supplies your kindergartener will need for class. If you’re unaware, there are a lot of organizations that will help families, as well as teachers, with classroom items. Here are a few local Pittsburgh organizations that you can check out over on Kidsburgh.org.
Special Date
Take them out on a special one on one date before the big day or make it a family weekend trip. If you’re local to the Pittsburgh area, Kidsburgh is my go-to resource for the BEST local family fun in the Pittsburgh region focusing on the people and ideas making Pittsburgh a better place to raise kids. Check out some of the upcoming events for planning your special date with your kindergartener!
We had our special date by celebrating with a back to school picnic at Deer Lakes Park! It’s one of our favorite local spray parks and the playground is the largest playground in Allegheny County! See more free local spray parks here: https://www.kidsburgh.org/12-hot-spots-where-pittsburgh-kids-can-cool-off-for-free/
Follow Kidsburgh on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and checkout Kidsburgh.org for all the happenings in and around Pittsburgh!
Jitter Glitter
This Jitter Glitter is a tradition that we’ve done with our oldest and now we will be doing with our youngest. The night before Kindergarten we read them “The Night Before Kindergarten” book by Natasha Wing. Then we read them the Jitter Glitter poem that you can print off below. The poem will come with a little baggie that is filled with sequins or gems and they can only open it up the night before Kindergarten to sprinkle the Jitter Glitter under their pillow to ease the jitters.
Our son LOVED this and even requested the Jitter Glitter for his night before his first day of First Grade. You can download our free printable by clicking here and attaching them to a bag filled with your “jitter glitter”. Don’t forget to pair it with the book for a great bed time story!
Back To School Breakfast
First you’ll want to prep the room for their special breakfast. Balloons are always the perfect touch for any kind of celebration. My kids faces always light up when they see a room full of balloons. Fill up as many as you’d like using your helium tank and tie them to the back of the chair. Make sure to save these for your first day of school photos for after breakfast too!
When we did this breakfast for my son’s first day of preschool we surprised him by setting up some extra fun school supplies on the table at breakfast. And finish by serving up their favorite breakfast meal! This is a great time to sit down and talk them before they leave. Whether they’re excited or nervous, you can take that time to help ease those first day of school jitters.
Decorate Their Door
This is another fun way to surprise them with balloons. Decorate their door while they’re sleeping with streamers and balloons!
Conduct a Back-to-School Interview
Document their excitement with a back to school interview. This is perfect for your scrapbook and something to start yearly! Here’s a free printable version that you can download and print.
Special Back To School Dinner
Source: How Does She
Plan a Back To School Dinner the night before to celebrate the first day of school. How Does She has some creative ideas here to make your dinner extra special!
Back To School Handprint & Footprint Craft
Make some first day of school memento’s by doing handprint/footprints craft every year.Here are some ideas for some school themed ones including a handprint apple and footprint bus craft.
Yearly Handprint Back-To-School Shirt
Source: Where The Smiles Have Been
Make your own yearly handprint back to school t-shirt as a photo prop and adorable keepsake!
Mommy and Me Bracelets
Another idea to calm the first day of school jitters is with this gift idea with a free printable. This trick will help calm her nerves and she’ll think of you while she’s wearing her bracelet.
What do you want to see from Kidsburgh, what events/activities are they going to? How are you preparing your kids for school?
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