Even before we started homeschooling, our family had a tradition of making the first day of school extra special. The night before, we’d decorate the house and prepare a big breakfast with fun table décor to get the kids excited. Once we began homeschooling, we kept that tradition alive—and it’s become one of my kids’ favorite parts of starting a new school year!
Today, I want to share a peek into our first day of school traditions, plus some of the décor we’ve used for the past two years and what we’re adding this year.
Breakfast 🎉
We always start the first day with a big breakfast celebration. Each year I decorate our dining table with festive back-to-school décor. Some years I’ve printed cut-outs from Etsy, while other years I’ve ordered ready-made decorations from Amazon.
For the 2024–2025 school year, I went with a colorful back-to-school breakfast spread that the kids loved. (I’ll link the Etsy decorations we used here.)
This year, for 2025–2026, I found some fun décor on Amazon and switched things up a bit. It’s simple but exciting, and the kids wake up ready to celebrate the new year together.
Photos & Signs 📸
After breakfast, we always take first day of school photos. Last year, I purchased reusable first-day signs on Amazon, and I love that we can use them year after year. Each child gets their own sign to hold, and it’s such a sweet way to mark how much they’ve grown. (I’ll link the signs here.)
New This Year: Bulletin Board 🎯
Something new we’ve added for 2025–2026 is a bulletin board in our homeschool classroom. My goal is to update it every month with a new theme or design that sets the tone for our learning space. I love that it’s both practical and a fun way to bring fresh energy into the room all year long.
Keeping It Light ✨
Our first day of homeschool isn’t about cramming in lessons—it’s about setting the tone for the year. We decorate, we eat a special breakfast, we take our photos, and we enjoy the excitement of new supplies and fresh starts. Later in the day, the kids usually explore their curriculum and choose one subject to dive into, but I keep things light and pressure-free.
That’s it! These traditions have become a joyful way to start our homeschool year and give the kids something to look forward to. Whether it’s the decorations, the breakfast, or simply the excitement of a fresh start, the first day of school in our home is always memorable.
I hope our traditions inspire you as you create your own first day of homeschool memories!
💡 What’s your favorite first-day-of-school tradition? Share it in the comments—I’d love to hear from you!
– Gervase
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