Start the new school year off right with some of these fun back-to-school activities for homeschool kids!
The First Day of School
The first day of school can be such an exciting time for homeschoolers — I seriously love everything about this time of year.
From new art supplies & curriculum to cute first-day outfits & fun photo props!
That first day of starting something brand new always feels so good to this homeschool mom!
Plus, there is just something about tradition that I crave.
I love to snap pictures of my kiddos each new year and then look back at the previous years to see how much they’ve grown.
It’s so beautiful, you guys!
What a blessing it is to be a homeschool mom!
Back-to-School Activities for Homeschoolers
I still remember those early back-to-school days when my boys were enrolled in a brick-and-mortar school and everything always felt so rushed.
I would be filled with all the emotions while dropping them off and was informed by society that this is what parents were supposed to do –– this was the norm.
Looking back reminds me of how truly blessed I am today that I get to do all of this homeschool stuff with my kids.
I no longer have to drop my kids off while they embark on a brand new school year, instead, we get to start and end the entire journey together!
This is why I absolutely love turning the first day of school into something extra special each year.
Check out some of my back-to-school favorites for your first day back to schedule and routine.
7 Must Try Back-to-School Activities
Whether you like to keep the first day back to school a simple one or enjoy going big by turning it into a celebration — either way, I’ve got some fun ideas for your first day back!
#1 Throw a Party
When we first started homeschooling, I was worried my children would be missing out.
Missing out on school parties, special events, and even that dreaded word homeschoolers hate to hear — socialization!
But guess what?! They aren’t!
Back-to-school homeschool parties can be so incredibly easy to throw, you guys!
Plus, my kids totally love them!
We’ve thrown school parties for everything from holidays to the 100th day of school and they are always such a blast.
The best part? We get to be in control of the decorations, the activities, and the snacks — no more classroom restrictions.
Plus, our party can last all day, for multiple days, or even extend into the evening hours if we want it to!
How to Throw a Back-to-School Party
- Print decorations, make them, or have your children help decorate!
When we threw our 100th day of school party my kids decorated the wall with 100 different things during the party.
I’ve totally done this with holiday parties as well.
Simply decorate as you go.
Themed decorating that doubles as a party activity? I definitely consider that a win-win!
A few streamers and balloons thrown about don’t hurt either.
Try these fun decorations for your first day of school party.
Create this DIY ruler table runner via Ann’s Entitled Life as a statement centerpiece or construct this back-to-school pencil banner via Unique Gifter with your kiddos during the party!
- Serve fun snacks.
Seriously though, nothing screams party to a kid like a special snack they don’t get every day.
Simple ideas like cookie or cupcake decorating will send their day over the top!
You can also go the extra mile and do a quick Pinterest search for cutsie-themed food ideas or simply create a first-day-of-school snack tray full of their favorites!
I tend to keep our first day of snacking super simple — partially because I’m lazy and partially because less is more.
- Get crafty & have fun!
The last thing you need for a successful back-to-homeschool party is simple, fun activities for your kiddos to participate in!
Typically we go with a simple game & a craft, but your party can be whatever you make it!
Go simple or go all out, it’s totally up to you!
#2 Go on a Field Trip
NOTHING says back to homeschool like celebrating all the public school kids being back in school! Ha ha — for real though.
My favorite way to celebrate the simplicity of getting back to routine? Planning an epic field trip.
Once school starts back up, it’s time for homeschoolers to take back their museums, playgrounds, and libraries! Can you feel me?
There is seriously no better way to celebrate going back to school than by visiting your favorite homeschool hangout on day one of your brand new year!
#3 Play Educational Games
This can be so fun, you guys! If planning a full party is not your style, this is a super simple alternative.
Plan a no-frills game day full of easy homeschool games for your kiddos instead.
Choosing educational activities to start your homeschool year is not only fun, but it’s also a wonderful way to help your kids ease into the idea of learning again — especially if you’ve taken the entire summer off from all formal lessons!
Focus on simple educational fun such as money board games or spelling games.
Not sure how to plan games for an entire day? Simply plan a game to replace each core subject your child will be working on for the coming school year!
You can easily substitute language arts lessons with fun games like Scrabble or Bananagrams and play a quick game of Yahtzee as your first-day math.
These are such fun options, you guys!
Have younger learners? Purchase some letter tiles & play a word competition game instead. Give each child the same amount of letters and shout out sight or spelling words for them to spell! The first one done wins that round. Simple and fun!
Looking for printable or online games instead? Check out our ABC-123-Shape BINGO for early learners & Sight Word BINGO for grades K-3!
Plus, get your hands on lots of fun learning freebies (including online games) at our free resource center!
#4 Take School Outside
This!
If your kids crave the outdoors and aren’t quite ready to reign things in for structure and routine just yet — have your first day of school outside.
You can plan a full day or a half day of formal lessons by simply introducing the course books or just talking about your expectations for the year.
All while enjoying one last full day outside together.
We tend to take our school outside often in the fall months anyway. I like to keep it super simple and just enjoy our school work with lots of free play mixed in between.
Simple Tip: When schooling outside, set goals & take breaks often.
I tend to complete one task with my daughter, then send her to play for 5 minutes, complete a second task, then more play, and so on!
#5 Make First Day Keepsakes
Ok, I just had to throw this one in here!
Not going to lie, this is an absolute must when it comes to our first-day of school celebrations and I do it every year!
I get new back-to-school outfits, print out the first-day signs, and take all the pictures, you guys!
There is something iconic and nostalgic about taking that first day of school photo!
Not only are first-day photos fun and give your kids (and you) a sense of normalcy, but they also spark that amazing feeling of tradition that something big is happening!
Transitioning from one grade (or level) to another is big, you guys! Why not celebrate it?!
That said, fun first-day printables and back-to-school crafts can make awesome keepsakes as well.
Sign up for our email newsletter to get your free back-to-school printable signs & back-to homeschool photo props.
Signing up will also give you complete access to our entire free printables library.
#6 Go out for Breakfast
Going out for a special meal is the number one way to celebrate literally anything.
Going out to eat or fixing a special meal is the perfect way to kick your new homeschool year off on the right foot!
Sometimes I simply let my kids pick our special first-day-of-school breakfast and other times I choose to surprise them!
It’s so much fun, you guys!
Useful Tip: You can go totally simple with your first day of school celebration by only having a special breakfast, or you can celebrate all day long by using it as the start of your homeschool party!!
#7 Don’t School at All
Sounds crazy, but there it is!
The easiest back-to-homeschool celebration is the one with no formal lessons at all.
Simply use your first day to ease back into routine.
Start your first homeschool day by discussing expectations for the year, looking over your new course books, and talking about your upcoming homeschool schedule.
Then, take some time to brainstorm field trip ideas, make party plans for special days, and just enjoy hanging out with your kiddos!
Easy, peasy.
Other Fun Back-to-School Activities
Looking for something more on the crafty side of things or simply need some other fun ideas?
Check out all of our back-to-school blog posts below!
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Have a wonderful first day back-to-homeschool, you guys!
