Back to School Traditions

1. Back to School Shopping

2. Reading Books about School

3. BTS Photos

4. Filling out Back to School Sign

5. First Day of School Breakfast

6. School Drop Off with Mommy and Daddy

7. Teacher Gifts

8. Celebrating with a Special Treat

1. I have girls so any type of shopping is fun (or a nightmare) but Back to School Shopping is a tradition I've had since I was a little girl.  I love that I get to carry on this tradition with my girls.  Both of my girls love to shop which makes things so much fun but little Miss Madi has huge opinions so shopping with her can be a nightmare.  I bought her a first day of school outfit and brought it home with pride and she hated it.  She cried to try it on and refused to wear it.  I knew I wouldn't change her mind weeks later so I returned it.  I decided she better go with me to pick out an outfit.  This time we went with Grandma and other family members for encouragement.  I picked out an outfit which she hated once again.  She wanted NOTHING to do with it until she found an outfit she loved that she used as a negotiation tool (SHE's ONLY 3)!  I didn't like the outfit she picked but she said, "I wear this if I can get that!!!"  So we agreed that she would wear my outfit the first day of school if we bought the outfit she liked and she could wear that the second day of school.  I thought I was going to have WWIII on my hands come time for getting ready the first day of school but she was actually super excited about her outfit and reminded me about her next outfit she will get to wear (she forgets nothing).

Thank you to Grandma and Voa Voa for helping with Back to School Shopping.  The girls are so blessed!

Anyways I love getting the girls a new outfit, backpack, lunchpail and supplies for school.  I shared some of my favorite items with you HERE but I also wanted to share my absolute favorite place for personalized items.  The girls adorable backpacks are from Viv & Lou which offers the cutest products that all can be personalized for free.  The quality is outstanding, the options are endless and everything is very affordable in my opinion.  My favorite part is the personalization is included!

One of our traditions is giving the girls their new backpacks filled with all their supplies and even a few goodies as a special treat.  Here are the girls checking them out for the first time:

2. We read at least 1-2 times a day with the girls and I think it's a great way for them to learn or prepare for something.  Each girl got a new book that taught them about going to school.  Emily's was The Night Before Kindergarten and Madi's was Goose Goes to School.  Madi's nickname is Goose so when I saw this book I had to have it.  I bought it over a year ago and held onto to it for her.

3. Every year a few days before school starts I take Back to School Photos with a desk set up.  It's also our tradition to take a picture the morning of on our rock in our front yard.  I know one day I will cherish comparing the pictures from year to year and seeing their growth.

Backpack

Backpack

4. I either order or make a printable each year for the girls to take a picture with.  This year I was able to make it with the help of Pinterest; I found the template HERE.  It's our tradition to fill it out and see what the girls say.  Emily first said her favorite color was the rainbow but I said she had to pick one.  I was shocked when she said Orange because for year's she's always said, pink and purple.  She also said she wanted to sell houses like me when she grows up so I wrote in Realtor.  I think we'll make a killer team in about 20 years!!! Of course some of her favorite things include singing, dancing and swimming.  She's always doing all three!

Madi's favorite color is pink, she wants to be a mommy when she grows up and she loves to paint and swim!

5. I like to do a fun Back to School Breakfast on the First Day of School.  This year was pancakes in the shape of letters; P for Preschool and K for Kindergarten.

Plates from Re-Play, Free Shipping on orders $35+

6. Kevin doesn't get to drop off the girls on a daily basis because of work but it's our tradition to do first day of school drop off together.  I love the effort he makes to make us all feel special and loved.  Unfortunately we only snagged photos with Madi this year and not Emily:(

Emily had a meet and greet one day and her official first day the next.

7. I think teachers are some of the hardest working and most patient people on the Earth so a little thank you gift is well deserved.  I made a Back to School Survival Kit for each teacher along with including a gift card as well.  For Emily's teacher I had a book bag made from one of my all-time favorite places for gifts, Zoey's Attic.  They have so many choices its unbelievable but I picked a book bag because a teacher always has to carry a million things and the saying on the bag is so completely true.  You know how much I loved personalized items so this is an extra special touch.  To learn more about Zoey's Attic click HERE.  I'm excited to share the love with you because I'm hosting a GIVEAWAY with Zoey's Attic.  Check out my Instagram for all the details.

I also got Madison's apple monogram shirt from Zoey's Attic.  Like I said they have so many options you wouldn't believe.  This shirt is perfect for school and couldn't get any cuter with it's glitter accents.  I loved seeing Madi's excitement to get it and then wear it to school.

Right click on picture and Save Picture As to print out your own tag.

8. We like to celebrate the First Day or Week with a special treat.  This year we gave the girls a BTS Coupon Book including coupons for a special snack, chore pass, game night, ice cream date, movie night, and extra screen time.  With the craziness of school schedules I want to make sure we remember to have fun and let the kids just be kids while they are still little.

I live for traditions so I hope you got some ideas here.  What are your BTS Traditions?  I always love hearing new ideas.

Don't forget to enter my giveaway with Zoey's Attic.

This is a sponsored post.  As always all opinions expressed are honest and my own.