How to Have a Happy First Day of School

There’s no one way to have a happy first day of school.

The joy.

The anticipation.

The inevitable cry-off.

This is one BIG day for everyone.

And, um, can we just take a moment to work out how on earth this day arrived so quickly?

It feels like mere seconds ago they were all babble and poop, and now they’re heading off to get an education?!

How is this allowed?

You want to make it special.

You want to ensure that they have the best time.

You want them to want to go back again the next day.

Eek. The pressure.

First, we say, embrace the big feels!

If either you or they are overcome with emotion, that’s totally fine.

With that in mind, here’s a bit of a framework to make things a little easier.

In this article: 📝

Why is the first day of school so important?
How does it feel on the first day of school?
How do you make the first day of school special?

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Why is the first day of school so important?

This is a big transition and big transitions sometimes come with tears.

Also, there’s no “one way” to do this thing.

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Some kids are going to be utterly thrilled to start on their long journey through the education system.

Others are going to wonder why on earth you’re putting them through this torture.

Basically, what one kid needs is by no means what all kids need.

You know your child.

You know what they need on this day.

How does it feel on the first day of school?

Well, it’s not uncommon to feel pretty much all the emotions on your little one’s first day of school.

And this goes for the both of you!

You could both be excited, nervous, confident, scared… all at once!

So it’s perfectly natural to shed a few tears, even if it’s just from the overwhelm.

Here are a few of our Peanut moms sharing their experiences on their children’s first day of school, so you know you’re not alone:

“My kiddo started pre-K a couple of weeks ago. She loves it! I think I was most worried about her behaving and making friends but she doesn’t seem to have a problem with it.” ‒ Sidney
“My little dude starts preschool next week and I know he’ll love it but I’m always worried about other kids breaking his confidence and just bullying in general. He’s gentle and always happy and I just hate the idea of that good nature being crushed by some spiteful children.” ‒ Jessica
“I was happy to see my eldest go! He was needing something to occupy him!” ‒ Keirra
“My 4-year-old started pre-k this year and I was terrified because he’s always been just a smidge behind his peers, socially and academically. But I’m so proud of him because he is thriving on having a routine. Turns out I had nothing to worry about!” ‒ Tiffany
“My son started pre-k last week. I’m so proud of him. So far he’s adjusting better than me!” ‒ Takeyma
“My girl started kindergarten today. She is a social bug so she did well. Just worried about the waking up so early part and adjusting to a new routine for both of us.” ‒ Nancy
“When my son first started school I was at home constantly looking at the clock counting down. After a few days it became normal.” ‒ Marie
“Today was our first official day and luckily I was able to get all the way back to the car before I started crying.” ‒ Kirby
“My kids dropped me like a hot potato today as I cried my eyes out while they walked into their first school for the first time. I miss them so much and it’s only been 2 hours.” ‒ Nailah

How will I survive my child’s first day of school?

We get it, it can be hard.

While you’ll have more free time, it can be tough to be away from someone who’s been by your side for… years!

Our top tip on how to get through their first day of school?

Distract yourself!

Go see a movie, sort out the house, read a book, play a video game, bake them a cake for when they get home, meet up with your Peanut friends…

Keep yourself busy, mama.

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How do you make the first day of school special?

It’s going to be special.

We promise.

Even (and maybe, especially) if emotions run high.

Here are some tips to help you make the day even more memorable:

Make the prep work exciting. Involve them in lunchbox shopping, collecting supplies, etc. You don’t have to do the slog work behind the scenes.
Get them something special to bring to school. Whether it’s a pencil case with their favorite character, a new backpack, or even some snazzy socks (we love Bombas for the best socks), ideally something they can’t lose easily (socks are our shout).
Get reviews from older kids. Be it a sibling, a family friend, or a neighbor—nothing like getting the lowdown from someone who’s recently been through it all.
Create something tangible as a keepsake. Before and after photos are a great idea. Record the experience in words. What did they say when you dropped them off? What was the trip to school like? What were their first words when you picked them up? It’ll be fun to look back on all this in years to come.
Leave them a message in their lunch box. A little note or a special trinket can go a long way.
Deep breaths help. A lot. (This one’s for you and them.)

What are some first day of school books?

Another great way to make your little scholar’s first day of school extra special is to give them a book all about their transition to school.

Here are a few favorites from our Peanut mamas:

How do you wish a good first day of school?

There’s no one magic wish that can be copy-pasted into all families.

That being said, if the words are getting stuck in your throat (yep, totally normal), here’s some inspiration to help you out.

First day of school wishes

First off, here are some things you can tell your little one to get them excited about their first day of school:

There are so many friends waiting to be made; so many games waiting to be played; so many lessons waiting to be learned. We love you.
Wow! It’s your first day of school. So many adventures await. We can’t wait to hear all about them. You’re our superhero. See you soon.
Do you even know how strong you are? You are going to do so well. Remember that whenever you need us, we are here for you. We are so proud of you.
You have brought us nothing but joy. I guess we should share some of it with your new friends. We love you and are so proud of you.
New books, new friends, new adventures. Off you go! Look how brave you are. We love you so much.
Your only job is to be yourself. And what a beautiful self that is. We can’t wait to see what you’re going to do.
We can’t wait to hear every little detail of how today goes. Now take that fairy dust and sparkle like only you know how.
Be yourself, listen to others, and play your heart out. Those are the only rules. We love you.
It’s official! When you go to bed tonight, you will be in big school. We are so proud of you.
When I pick you up later, I want you to tell me the three magical things that happened today. Be on the lookout for them. There’s magic everywhere. We love you.

Happy first day of school quotes (for them)

And then, here’s some motivation to get you through:

“If you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours.” ― Dolly Parton
“You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” ― A. A. Milne/Christopher Robin
“Be silly, be honest, be kind.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” ― Oscar Wilde
“No one is perfect―that’s why pencils have erasers.” ― Wolfgang Riebe
“Anything is possible. Anything can be.” ― Shel Silverstein
“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” ― Aesop
“Remember you’re the one who can fill the world with sunshine.” — Snow White, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
“My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me.” — Henry Ford
“Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.” ― Maya Angelou

First day of school quotes (for you)

You’re also starting off on a journey.

This can be a big transition.

Here’s a little inspiration to get you through the day.

“If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.” ― Albert Einstein
“Children must be taught how to think, not what to think.” ― Margaret Mead
“Children are not things to be molded, but are people to be unfolded.” — Jess Lair

1. “No kid is unsmart. Every kid’s a genius at something. Our job is to find it. And then encourage it.” ― Robin Sharma
“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” — Seneca
“Love is proved in letting go.” ― Cecil Day-Lewis
“And now let us welcome the new year, full of things that never were.” — Rainer Maria Rilke
“Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them.” — James Baldwin
“One thing I had learned from watching chimpanzees with their infants is that having a child should be fun.” — Jane Goodall
“Hugs can do great amounts of good, especially for children.” — Princess Diana

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Exciting times!

Wishing you and your little peanut a very happy first day of school!