7 Ways to Make Back-to-School Fun (For Real)

During my parenting career, I’ve ushered my children through back-to-school season 12
times. That’s 12 nervous bedtime cuddles, 12 first-day-of-school breakfasts, and 12
squeezy hand-holds on the walk to school. Over the years, I’ve learned that a little festivity can make a big difference. Here are a few of the tips I’ve picked up, to make things more relaxed and fun for everyone…

1. Bake morning muffins. I challenge you to name a yummier weekday breakfast than warm muffins. We’ve made these zucchini ones (with chocolate chips) a gazillion times, and I already got the ingredients for these apple cider muffins, yummmm.

2. Consider a cake for the night before. Ever since the boys were little, we’ve served cake the night before the first day of school. The boys pick one out from our local bakery, and I light candles for them to blow out. Even as they’ve grown older, it has helped nerves feel a bit more like excitement.

3. Browse for school clothes. When I was growing up, going back-to-school shopping was a highlight of my year. Driving to the outlets with my mom and sister, while listening to ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’? Nothing better. Nowadays, Quince has excellent kids’ stuff, including cotton sweaters, piqué polos, and colorful backpacks. And how cute is this dress?

4. Stock up on socks. You know those kid habits that drive you crazy but you know you’ll secretly miss once they leave the nest? My list includes my boys’ socks scattered ev-er-y-where. To keep everyone supplied, we get a bunch of white socks for Anton and black socks for Toby. (Bonus: Giving each kid a different color makes laundry much easier.)

5. With little ones, read The Kissing Hand. When two-year-old Toby first started preschool (how tiny was he?), he was beyond nervous. A CoJ reader named Tracey recommended this wonderful children’s book. In the story, a raccoon mom soothes her anxious son as he prepares for his first night of school — kissing his paw, to help him feel brave. It’s such a sweet classic, and helped remind Toby that I was always rooting for him.

6. Give teens Apple Gift Card. Now that Anton is 13 and Toby is 16, we are in full-fledged Teenage Land. The boys have one foot in adulthood and one foot in childhood — case in point: Toby slammed his bedroom door at night, then shouted “Aren’t you going to cuddle me, at least?!” — so I’m always looking for safe ways to give them more freedom. I’m giving them each Apple Gift Card this fall, so they can buy (or save up for) AirPods and accessories, as well as favorite games, TV shows, music, movies, you name it. *Sponsored mention

7. Put a friend on speed dial. Do you ever get weepy on the first day of school? Last fall, I walked past an elementary school one morning and spotted a crowd of parents at the gate, standing on tip toes, trying to get even a glimpse of their little ones heading in through the big front doors. The love of a parent! Enlist a friend — ideally, one with older kids, who’s already been through it all — to give you a pep talk, if you need one. And remember: You’re doing a great job.

Thoughts? What would you add? I’d love to hear…

P.S. Toby’s very first day of school ever, and the phrase that finally helped soothe my kids’ separation anxiety.

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