Traditions are a part of every family. We have traditions for birthdays, holidays and big events. I remember growing up, my mom would take my 2 sisters and I shopping before school started. We would go out for a whole day and get school supplies, back to school outfits and have lunch, then once we got home we would try on our new clothes and have a little fashion show to show them off. Now that my children are 10, 7 and 2, I have started doing this same tradition with them. Here are some other local parents sharing their back to school traditions.
| "First timer here, my daughter starts preschool this year and I love this idea of a bracelet so every school year she will get a new one and they will know that I'm always with them." ~Shelly M, mom to Kaylee (3) & Remi, (1) |
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| "When my daughter starts kindergarten I’m going to make her a shirt with her grad year and every year take a pic as she grows into it. ️ We also have the bracelets for her and I to wear while we are apart as she starts pre-k this year" ~Karen A, mom to Lexie (4) & Owen (3) |
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| "My daughter is going into 2nd grade. She gets anxious so I have a matching Mommy and me bracelet made every year with our favorite colors. We always get a hair cut, new shoes and she carefully picks out her first day of school outfit. We pick out the book bag and lunch box a few weeks before school starts. We have our morning pictures with the "sign" We also started, in preschool, having her teachers write a note to her in the Doctor Seuss Oh the places you will go book at the end of the school year. This is a surprise for her." ~Melissa, mom to Dana(7) |
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| "We always have a girls day at the mall. We used to go to build a bear while we were there, but this year we will also go to Kelly's cafe for lunch" ~Chand M, mom to Sahana (7) & Prerna (5) |
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| "We have a 'going back to school fun day' the day before. Pizza, popcorn, a movie, root beer floats or ice cream and just make a day if it. If it’s nice we go to Ohio Station Outlets and ride the train and let them paint ceramics." ~Crissy, mom to Hannah (11) & Ethan (7) |
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| "Since I teach, and she’s already back to school we set everything out the night before (dress, necklace, bow, etc). Then when I get home from work we all go out to eat and she tells us all about her new classroom, friends and teacher. She’ll be in pre-K 5 this year so this will be the 3rd year of this tradition! We also do photos on the porch with a sign on the first and last day too to see her growth! We go to the studio a week before and do her photos with the desk and her board." ~Erin K, mom of Aubrey & Autumn |
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| "Our first day of school and last day of school tradition is that I take off work and I pick my daughter up from school and we get ice cream and spend the rest of the day doing whatever she wants - just me and her! She usually picks the park or train watching! We have done it for the past 2 years of preschool and she is entering pre-K this year and I plan to continue this tradition for both of my girls throughout their school years! " ~Tanya G, mom to Kadie (4) |
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| "Growing up, every Sunday before school started we would have make your own sundae bars. It was myself and the neighbor kids. It was set up outside and was one last celebration before school would start. I plan on doing this with my daughter this year as well, she will be starting kindergarten in August!" ~Amber V, mom to Laila (5) |
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| "The last summer weekday before school started, I would take off work and take my kids hiking and a picnic or restaurant lunch for the day as one last fun day." ~Shannon F, mom of 4 |
| "It’s not technically a tradition yet, but it was for me and my mom when I was in school and I plan on doing it once my kids are big enough to actually enjoy it. But every year, during the last week of summer break my mom would pick a day to take off work and we would go Cedar Point just me and her. As soon as my kids are big enough for the rides we will be doing the same" ~Jessica P. mom to Eislee (5) & Braxton (2) |
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| "I take off of work for the first day of school. The girls pick their favorite breakfast and dinner that day. After school we get ice cream and go to the playground to talk about the day. I try to make it something they’re excited about to ease the first day jitters." ~Bonnie Z. mom to Emma (12) & Julianna (4) |
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| "My daughter will be a senior this year and every single school year we have made a mommy/daughter "thing" for back to school supplies. We get her list together and shop the deals at a few stores then go have lunch or dinner and talk about the upcoming year, her classes, friends, teachers and activities. Then we do some clothes shopping for that back to school outfit and more. It is harder with high school because the list is so much shorter but that has always been a tradition of ours. When I see these pre-packaged boxes I get sad thinking of all the memories that would have been lost had we done that. It is a type of right of passage each year that I will miss dearly... Wait.. There is still college! ❤" ~Kimberlee mom to Kaitlyn (17) |
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So many families have such different traditions! I hope this article has given some inspiration to those families who are looking for fun things to do before school. It was so much fun to put together, a huge thank you to all who submitted their traditions! School is right around the corner, make the last week of summer an exciting one!!
