Starting a new homeschool year can be daunting for both kids and moms! There is this tension between excitement for a new routine and the sadness that summer break is winding down. As homeschooling moms, many of us like to have a plan in place. We’ve spent countless summer hours combing over curriculum, getting input from fellow homeschoolers, picking out books, and planning potential field trips. And then comes the first day. We want everything to go smoothly or else… all seems lost. So how do you ensure a great start to the school year? While there is no guarantee, there are certainly some special things you can do to kick off a new year in memorable ways. The start of school doesn’t have to just be about new clothes or new school supplies. Those things are important and in a lot of ways, they define this time of year. But there are also so many unique, fun activities you can incorporate that you may not have thought about yet. Some of these may become new first day of school traditions for your family, or they may be things you try just this once. Please don’t let these ideas overwhelm you or add to your to do list. And no way could anyone be expected to do them all! My hope is that you pick one, maybe two ideas to help create a fun day for you and your kids as you start a new homeschooling year. 

The good news is that first day of school does not have to encompass the whole of what we want to accomplish for the year–not even close! If our goal in homeschooling is to deepen our relationships with our children and give them a rich, meaningful education that is full of love and adventure then let’s let our first day of school be just that–a family day full of adventure! This is what makes our ability to homeschool special. 

I like to start off with a special breakfast. In our house, this usually means I’m up early making doughnuts–but a trip to Dunkin Donuts or the local bakery is just as good! I also like to have a letter written to each child from me on their plate. This is my way of letting them know how special they are, how much I love them, and what I’m excited about for them in coming school year. And of course, we start our day in prayer for the new year. 

Once it’s time to start school, we generally don’t cover all subjects on that first day. I typically pick one or two we all enjoy and focus just on those. I know it’s tempting to get right into the new school schedule, but it’s also nice (and beneficial) to ease in and get a feel for how long things will take to get done. This is hard to do if we’re trying to cram everything in all at once. Don’t forget to leave margin in your schedule! This is a great mentality to maintain, not only for the first day of school, but for the whole year. This also leaves room to get those first day of school pictures, if you want!

To make that first day special, think location. Can any of the subjects you want to cover be done outside? Taking school work to a park or playground can be a really unique and fun way to start the year. If science is one of the subjects you want to start with, one of my favorite things to do is take a nature walk! If you’re a hiking family like us, or have older kids, hitting the trails or hiking a mountain is totally doable for that first day! Pack some art supplies or even a math worksheet to complete at the summit. Hiking outside is an excellent way to wake up the brain and how many kids get to say they did school at the top of a mountain?! So much fun.

Speaking of math… is it a dirty word in your household like it is for a few of my kids? Math is one of those non-negotiable subjects that everyone loves to hate. I know it seems senseless to not get it in on the first day of school, but you can still change it up a bit. Consider using that first day for review games rather than a full lesson. Or maybe you take it as a mental math day, (which could turn into a once-a-week routine)! There are so many fun things to do for math on that first day of homeschool. From games to experimenting with recipes as the math lesson, the possibilities for a fun start are endless. 

One thing I definitely have to get in on that first day of school is a read-aloud. Reading out loud is something I do with my children everyday during the school year and as often as I can in the summer. I get so excited over read-alouds and picking the new books I want us to experience together! While we do want that first day of school to feel special, it’s important to also incorporate some aspect of the routine you’re striving for in the coming year. For us, reading aloud is a big part of that routine. I would be remiss if we skipped it on the first day. It’s also an easy one to do outside, at a park, on a trail, or on a picnic blanket with the whole family. 

Whether you do one, two, or more subjects on the first day, I highly recommend ending by lunchtime. We typically do this all year (with a few exceptions), but I find it to be especially important on day one. It’s so nice to have that afternoon to debrief or adventure. So what about a special lunch? If you can’t get in that special breakfast (or maybe you do but what’s one more special meal?) you can totally make lunch a fun meal, too. Is there a certain lunch that is everyone’s favorite? Can you go out for lunch to celebrate the first day? Or if you have the capacity, can each child make his or her own lunch? This, too, can become a weekly tradition that can also help foster independence in the kitchen. 

Once school work is done for the day, consider taking an adventure in the afternoon. Go for a hike on a new-to-you trail, visit a park or botanical garden, or just go out for ice cream and talk about the day and your hopes for the new school year! This is a great way to include your kids in the “planning” of their education. Figure out what they are hoping to learn this year. (You may want to do this before the first day of school, but if you don’t get around to it, it’s totally fine to use that first day as a strategy session with your students.) 

You could also consider making the whole first day into a field trip. If you know you’re starting with a particular topic in science or history that lends itself well to museum or outdoor exploration, why not start there? Imagine surprising your kids with a field trip when they are expecting to wake up start school work. Priceless. 

Whatever form it takes for you, I encourage you to make the first day of a school a special treat for your kids. The most important thing is to remember the reason for choosing to homeschool, and don’t allow yourself to become a slave to your curriculum choices. 

While you want to have a plan in place and maybe you’re ironing it out the week before or the night before, try not to overplan. Let yourself (and your kids) ease into the school year. Don’t stress. Remember that you are the best person to raise, disciple, and teach your kids. And home is the best place for them to learn! You’ve got this.

Be sure to download these free printables with tips for the first day and reminders for the homeschooling mom and post them in your school planning area or on your vision board if you have one. They are great reminders not only for the first day of school, but for your school planning year round.