Back To School.

School goes back in just a couple of weeks and many are preparing for their little ones very first day of Big School! Nervousness, excitement, sadness and everything in between, it can be with mixed emotions that we send our little ones off. If this is the big year for your family then you’re probably busy worrying about how your child will get along, if they have the right equipment and will they eat their lunch? But in the midst of all the practical preparations don’t forget the fun stuff! Pretty Princess has compiled some ideas to help make the start of school extra special!

Make Memories

Most people will take a picture of their child in school uniform on their first day, maybe in front of the house or the school- but there are some amazing ideas out there to give the traditional first day photo something extra.

You could use an App or computer program to insert words like in this beautiful picture from Allenaim Photography:

Allenaim Photography

Or make some creative use of blackboards like this one from Smile and Wave:

Smile and Wave

If you don’t have any blackboards you could achieve the same effect with some decorated poster board. 

Another sweet idea to capture this moment in time is to conduct a Back to School Interview. Your future big-schooler will feel very special and grown up while you ask them questions about their likes and dislikes and it will be great fun to look back over their answers in the future!  You could collate all their interviews and photos into a book come graduation. To make interviewing your little princess or prince extra easy head over to Petite Lemon where you can download a printable interview sheet for free!

Super Big Kid Breakfast

You’ve probably spent a lot of time planning lunch boxes and organizing snacks in the lead up to the big day but what about the rest of the day?  You’ll want to send them off to school with a healthy breakfast- but health doesn’t preclude fun!

What about Super-Fluffy Wholemeal Pancakes? Top with fruit salad and a tiny bit of maple syrup. Your little one will be delighted with their extra special big-kid breakfast and it will give them plenty of energy for their big day! You might be busy getting ready in the morning so make the pancake mix and the fruit salad the night before, they’ll keep in the fridge and it’ll take no time to fry the pancakes up come breakfast time!

Congratulations Afternoon Tea

Anything out of the usual will delight them. Cookies and milk or out for an ice cream, enjoying a yummy afternoon tea together will be the perfect opportunity to hear all about their big day!

A special gift and a new tradition

Now your little one is a big school kid they’ll be learning to write more and more. They can practice their writing as well as record their first year of school in pictures with a Nightime Drawing Journal!

The Coterie Blog 

Receiving their own special book and perhaps some new pencils will make them feel extra grown up. Explain how journals are used and give them a little quiet time each evening to draw their day. You’ll see more and more words’ appearing as the year goes on and at the end of the year it will be a special record of their development and learning as well as all the fun they've had!

Something for the Grown-ups!

Once the kids are tucked away for the night don’t forget to celebrate your own success! Big school is milestone for the child and for the parents. You've done a great job for the last 5 years, you've got them this far and that’s worth celebrating! Have a glass of bubbly, a special dessert or have an at-home-date. You deserve it! Congratulations Parents!