It’s that time again—new clothes, fresh backpacks, sharpened pencils and someone is wondering where the lunch boxes disappeared to over the summer!
Back-to-school season feels like a whirlwind of schedules, forms, practices and homework. That doesn’t mean family fun and bonding time should end, though. Quite the opposite—back-to-school is one of the best times to start meaningful traditions children will remember long after they’ve forgotten their math grade. From day one of school to the last, the school year offers countless opportunities to create traditions that strengthen families.
Let’s begin with the first morning of school. Instead of a rushed bowl of cereal, how about homemade pancakes—with blueberries, of course—waffles with whipped cream, or a favorite breakfast casserole? Anything that shows your child that this day matters.
Speaking of eating, sitting around the table as a family is a great practice no matter what time of year. Inevitably, school discussions pop up with or without prompts like,“What do you want to learn this year?” “What are you excited about?” “What worries you?”
Don’t pressure kids if they have few answers. Sometimes just asking the questions lets them know we’re interested and gets their wheels turning.
One tradition I wish I had started with my daughters is a time capsule. Throughout the year, everyone writes favorite moments on small slips of paper—maybe a funny story—recounting a new friend, winning a game, acing a test or even surviving a tough week. Add those first day pics, some favorite artwork, a gold-star assignment or a short letter to their future self. Imagine your child looking back ten years later to discover she wanted to be a cowgirl princess! True story.
Speaking of memories, don’t forget the mandatory first day photo. We’ve moved a few times, but we’ve always found a special spot outside the home to take the official “first-day” picture. Lined up, they become a timeline of the kids’ changing styles and attitudes.
My wife also started a well-loved tradition. She’d slip a handwritten note into our daughters’ backpacks or lunch boxes every so often throughout the year. We like to think those small notes brightened their day.
Make Friday a day to celebrate the end of the school week. Sometimes we stopped for gelato at Bonta, a milkshake at Dandy’s or more recently, for one of those fancy drinks at Dutch Bros. Often I’d ask about the best and most difficult parts of their week or we would discuss something they learned. Sometimes those conversations were quick, one-word responses, and other times they stretched on until everyone finished that last bite of ice cream. Homework time can initiate family togetherness, too. Try a “Homework Happy Hour” where everyone gathers around the same table. Kids do homework while parents pay bills, read a book or catch up on their own work. No phones allowed! Another idea, especially with our amazing new library, is creating a weekly Library Night. Pick one afternoon each week to stop by after school. Let the kids browse, read and explore.
After the holidays, kids (and parents) often need a reset. Instead of simply surviving until summer, consider a mid-year family dinner. Celebrate what’s gone well, talk about what could be improved and revisit goals. This teaches kids that goals can be adjusted, celebrated or even completely rewritten.
As an educator myself, it’s easy for me to focus on grades, but more importantly I’ve learned to celebrate effort and process. Instead of asking, “What grade did you get?” try asking, “What’s something you can do now that you couldn’t do in September?” or “How could you improve?” These questions shift the focus from performance to progress.
Remember, not all classrooms have four walls. Involvement in the school community can also become a family tradition—attending sporting events, theater productions, choir concerts, science fairs, art shows or other school functions. Even if your own child isn’t participating, just showing up builds school spirit and introduces families to other parents and kids.
Trust me, schools thrive when faculty, students and parents work together. I don’t think I’ve attended a sporting event without someone asking if I wanted to help in the concession stand. Schools constantly need parents to chaperone field trips, help with events or pitch in during campus cleanup days. These moments send a powerful message to your children. “Your school matters because you matter.”
Of course, the last day of school deserves its own celebration—maybe a water balloon fight in the backyard, a picnic at the park or a special dinner out.
Prioritizing education, both inside and out of the classroom, strengthens families and reminds children that the school year is about more than just homework, grades and busy calendars. Years from now, they won’t remember every test or assignment, but they will remember the pancake breakfasts, the handwritten notes, Friday afternoon ice creams and conversations around the dinner table. Simple traditions become lifelong memories that remind our children they were loved and we were present.
This article appears in Bend Nest Fall 2026.
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