There is something about the first day of school that feels a little bit magical. Even when the weather is still decidedly summer, when the afternoons are hot and the trees are still green and it doesn’t quite feel like autumn yet, there is a sense that the season is beginning to turn.

New shoes wait by the door. Backpacks are packed. Pencils are sharpened. Outfits have been chosen. The children are a little older than they were when summer began, and somehow the first day of school makes that especially noticeable.

There may be excitement, nervousness, sleepy eyes, butterflies in little stomachs, or some combination of all of them. And it is worth pausing for a moment before everyone rushes out the door.

The first day of school only happens once each year.

It doesn’t need to be elaborate. In fact, the loveliest traditions are often the simplest ones. A favorite breakfast. A photograph on the front porch. A little note tucked into a lunchbox. A special dinner waiting at home.

Just a few small things to tell our children:

This day matters.

You are loved.

We are so happy to watch you grow.

Begin With a Special Breakfast

There is something comforting about beginning an important day with a special breakfast.

It doesn’t have to be an elaborate meal. Perhaps it is your child’s favorite breakfast, pancakes with berries, cinnamon rolls, waffles, scrambled eggs and toast, muffins, or something as simple as cereal served in a favorite bowl.

You might put flowers on the table or light a candle.

Play a favorite song.

Pour the juice into the nice glasses.

The idea isn’t to make breakfast complicated. It is simply to make an ordinary weekday morning feel a little more like an occasion.

And if the first morning is too hectic for a leisurely breakfast, that’s perfectly fine, too. Even a favorite muffin eaten at the kitchen counter can become part of the tradition.

Let Them Choose Something Special to Wear

There is a particular sweetness to a child’s first-day-of-school outfit.

Maybe they have a new dress or a new shirt. Maybe they are wearing their favorite outfit from last year. Maybe they have very definite ideas about what they want to wear, and perhaps those ideas are nothing like what you would have chosen!

Let the first-day outfit be something that makes them feel happy and confident.

You might even choose the outfit together the night before, setting it out alongside their shoes and backpack.

There is something lovely about seeing everything waiting for them in the morning.

Take the First-Day Photograph

And, of course, have your camera ready.

The first-day photograph is one of those traditions that can feel slightly silly when you’re trying to get everyone out the door, but becomes increasingly precious as the years pass.

Take the picture at the front door.

Or underneath the same tree every year.

You might have your children hold a little first-day-of-school sign with their grade or simply the year.

It doesn’t have to be Pinterest-perfect.

There might be a crooked backpack strap. Someone may be missing a shoe. Someone may refuse to smile. Take the photograph anyway. Those little imperfections will probably become part of what you love about the picture someday.

And if you can, take one photograph that isn’t posed at all. A child walking toward the car. A backpack being zipped. A sibling giving a hug. A little hand holding yours.

Those quiet photographs often tell the story of childhood just as beautifully as the official ones.

Tuck a Little Note Into the Lunchbox

The first day is a lovely time to tuck a tiny note into your child’s lunch. It doesn’t have to be a habit you maintain every day. For many families, that simply wouldn’t be practical. But on the first day of school, a little handwritten note can be such a sweet surprise.

It could say:

Have a wonderful first day!

We’re so proud of you.

You are loved more than you know.

I can’t wait to hear all about your day.

Or perhaps you could write something funny that you know will make them smile. A tiny piece of paper takes only a minute to write, but your child may carry those words with them for the whole day.

A Little Something for the Teacher

If your school doesn’t have a separate meet-the-teacher day, you might also like to send a small welcome gift with your child. And this is certainly not necessary. Teachers do not need elaborate gifts on the first day of school, and no family should feel pressure to provide one.

But if you enjoy doing something small, a handmade card from your child can be lovely. Perhaps your child could draw a picture or write a simple I’m excited to be in your class! You might also bring something very modest, such as a little basket of fruit or another simple classroom-friendly treat, if that is appropriate for the school.

The most meaningful part is often simply the thoughtfulness behind it.

Make the Afternoon Relaxing

After school, remember that the first day may have been a lot. Even children who are bursting with excitement may be tired from all the newness. There are new teachers, new classmates, new routines, new expectations, and perhaps a hundred little things to process.

So perhaps the first afternoon doesn’t need to be packed with activities. Have a snack. Let them change into comfortable clothes. Give them some time to play or simply be home.

You might ask, “How was your day?” and receive the wonderfully unhelpful answer, “Fine.” That’s okay. The stories may come later.

Sometimes children need a little time before they’re ready to tell us everything.

End the Day With a Special Dinner

I love the idea of making the first evening of school feel special, too.

Choose one of your family’s favorite dinners. It doesn’t need to be fancy. It might be homemade pizza, spaghetti and meatballs, tacos, roast chicken, or whatever makes everyone happy.

Set the table.

Put out the good napkins.

Maybe light a candle.

And then, when everyone has settled in, ask about the day.

Rather than asking only, “How was school?” try asking little questions that invite a story.

What was the funniest thing that happened?

What was your favorite thing you did?

What are you looking forward to tomorrow?

You may hear something wonderful. Or you may hear very little.

Either way, your children know that there is a place at home where their stories are always welcome.

And Something Sweet for Dessert

A special dessert makes nearly every family occasion feel a little more celebratory. It could be homemade cookies, brownies, peach crisp, ice cream with fresh berries, or a family favorite. It doesn’t need to be elaborate. The point is simply to have something waiting at the end of the day that says, We made it through the first day!

And perhaps someday your children will associate that dessert with the beginning of a new school year. They may not remember every detail of their first day of school. But they may remember coming home to their favorite dinner. They may remember sitting around the table. They may remember laughing over dessert and telling you about something funny that happened in class. They may remember feeling that the whole family was happy to have them home.

Begin Again With Gratitude

The first day of school can bring a lot of different emotions. For some children, it is exhilarating. For others, it might be a little exhausting.

For some mothers, it is exciting to see their children growing and becoming more independent. For others, there may be a little ache in realizing how quickly the years are passing.

Often it is all of these things at once.

And perhaps that is why the first day deserves a little attention.

We don’t have to make it perfect. We don’t have to create a picture-perfect morning or establish a dozen new traditions. We can simply notice it. Notice how much your child has grown since last year. Notice the excitement in their voice. Notice the tiny person standing in front of you who somehow seems both exactly the same and entirely different from the child who began summer.

Because these ordinary days are the ones that become childhood memories. The first day of school will come and go. The weather may still feel like summer, even while our calendars insist that autumn is on its way. But one day, we will look back and realize how quickly these years passed. So take the photograph. Make the pancakes. Give the extra hug. Listen to the stories at dinner. And when everyone is finally tucked into bed, take one last quiet look at the backpacks waiting for tomorrow.

A new school year has begun.

And for one more year, we get the privilege of watching our children learn, grow, discover, and become more fully themselves.

That is worth celebrating!