Hi! My son will start Kindergarten next week. He is my "baby" and I am really going to miss him as he has been my little buddy for so long! When my daughter started school I gave her a charm bracelet and every year now I have given her a new charm. I'd like to do something like that for my son but obviously not a charm bracelet! Does anyone have any ideas for that or other ways to make his first day of kindergarten special? We are also starting at a new school--still close by so we will know several friends but my daughter is much more apprehensive so I want to make both their first day extra special. Each year I do make their favorite dinner so that is one tradition I have started already. Thanks for your help!
Hello all! I know I am a week late but I wanted to let you know how much I appreciated all your ideas! For my son, I decided to start a special book collection. This year I bought a kindergarten related one and in following years I plan to buy books that relate to my son's interests that year or have special meaning/role models in the characters, etc. From the time my son could sit up he would sit with books and page through them very intently. I thought this would be a good "collection" for him to start. And like the charms I buy for my daughter (each year represents a special interest/milestsone for her) he can look back at his book collection and hopefully think of how each one has special meaning.
As far as the rest of the day, I am a scrapbooker so the photo/journaling memories came easily. I always do a first day picture (we even do a "last day" picture!) and also write down any funny stories of the first day. For example, my son did not want to sleep under his covers the night before....he said "that way my bed is made and I can be ready for school in the morning"--we're still having that "problem" but it's minor in the big picture. Thanks again everyone!
Hi Brenda
What a neat idea. How about a "special" ball cap ......one that he can keep year after year....
good luck and blessings
When my son started kinder last year i gave him a love stone for him to put in his pocket and have through the day. He had never gone to daycare or anything and was very nervous and sad. Before we left for school that morning I showed it to him and told him that since i couldn't be there with him throughout the day I had put all of my love into this stone and if he felt nervous or scared or sad at all, all he had to do was feel that stone and know that I was with him.
I like your charm bracelet idea. Maybe you could do a keychain for your son that you put charms or other things on...maybe even give him a house key since he's such a big boy now.
Hi there. I don't really have any ideas but I will be reading the replies here as my darling baby will start kindergarten on Monday. She is our only child and in my opinion, the reason the sun rises and sets. I have been crying off and on for 2 weeks at the thought but I don't want her to see. She is excited and ready to fly but I am so blue- I can hardly stand it. Parenting is not for wussies!!
But anyway- I want to start something special for her to commemorate her first day of school. Maybe something we can make a tradition.
So good luck to you and yours!
I wish I could be there to give all of you a big hug and congratulate all of you on what great parents you all are.
I felt just like the rest of you and guess what I survived! Our daughter will be leaving for her second year of college and I still feel like all of you are feeling!
Every year since kindergarten, I have asked her if she wanted to buy her lunch or take her lunch the first day. Then we would make up her lunch box menu or gather the correct change to put in an envelope with her name on it. Then she would pick out her first day clothes. And I would ask her what she wanted for breakfast so I could prepare it for her.
On the first morning of every school year as we walked to the car, I took her picture with her back pack on the front steps. In middle school a group of girls all rode together and we got a group shot... Then at the end of the first day of kinder. I stood by the door and when she walked out of the classroom her teacher gave her a hug and I got their picture together. Then I took her for a ice cream cone and had her show and tell me everything.
When my husband got home they sat on the sofa and she showed and told him everything on their own.. I am tearing up thinking about it. It is such a special time. Each year we pretty much did the same thing. Of course in middle school, you NEVER walk your child in.. That is hard, but you have to do it.
Our elementary school has a "first morning coffee" for the parents. We all meet in the library with boxes of tissues and lots of hugs for upset parents.. The coffee and pastries also help. If your PTA does not offer this, Maybe you can be in charge of it next year.. It really helps.
You will feel so many things that first day .....you're proud, you're sad, you're nervous, you're fearful. At least those were my feelings when my son started kinder last year.
You'd think I was the one starting kindergarden, he took it in pretty well. Before school actually started , I took him to the school to walk him around , it was new to both of us. Just so he would have an idea of the school and have it look familiar to him when school actually started.
I gotta tell you , that first morning when I took him in , I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE. ;))
But as the teacher did roll call and each child went to sit down on the floor in a circle, my son went and sat down - giggling and talking to the little boy next to him ( forgetting all about me being there ) I knew it was time to let go . My heart knew he was going to be fine .
On shaky legs I walked out to my car and went to work, and thought about my mom's own story of when she first took me to kindergarden--- she sat outside across the street from the school all day until I got out. Isn't that bizarre?? :) Believe me, I thought about it!!
Sorry I've rambled on and on, you just brought back so many memories.
And sorry I don't have suggestions , I just wanted to say . ... you'll do fine!! OUr babies grow up too fast.
Good luck.
OMG
Thank you to each and every one of you - I was wondering how I can make my big girls first day of Kindergarten special as well - and you have all given me some wonderful ideas.
Savannah is my first and only child. It is just the two of us in our home. She is very close to both me and my parents. They fill hte void left by her father and his side of the family and their lack of participation in her life.
I love the thought of a worry stone to keep in her pocket and I really think the idea of a charm bracelet is awesome. I will be buying one this weekend for sure.
We are planning a dinner out to discuss her day with the two of us and my parents.
I am also creating a scrapbook fo her. I will take pictures of her CDC that she has attending up until now and her teachers with notes from each of them and what they will remember the most of my daughter. I plan on continuing hte book with each teacher all the way through high school if my girl will let me. Adding my own notes as well to the book of events that may occur over the years, like prom or 8th grade dance or graduations and so forth.
You have made this an easier transition for both me and my daughter I believe.
Our big day is monday.
Thank you
Our daughter just started kindergarten this week and she's been enjoying a special note from mom or dad in her lunch bag. Also, here are some good tips for back to school routine http://blogs.goddardsystems.com/Cedar-Park-TX/
My oldest does not start school for another two years- but I know we will be there in a flash. For an idea: you and him could decorate a little box and then on the first day of school you can write a letter to him and every year write another letter and put it in the box, plus other keep sakes from the school year. You could also take his picture the first day of school and put that in there. You could also plan a get to know you party and invite the parents and children to a near by park. Thanks and I feel for you!
Children that age enjoy sharing a secret "something" with their parents. Maybe you and he can have something special that both of you will wear on that day (shoelaces, a rubber inspirational bracelet or something...). Also, I journaled about those experiences and my girls (now grown with children of their own) loved reading about my experiences. I named the journals "_______ School Days". We still have them and those memories were so vivid and have stayed with us. I kept track of lots of events. The kite day, teacher's names, impressions, funny things said; later on special projects like the sugar cube tomb of King Tut, winning a medal for jumproping the longest for the American Heart Assoc. I think those journals will always be precious heirlooms for them - written in my own handwriting and expressing my thoughts, hopes, joys about them and capturing the precious memories.
I have a feeling that whatever you pick for both children will be just fine - the fact that you've posted this concern shows you're a loving a caring mom.
Happy First Day of School 2009!
Brenda, I'm so glad you posted this question. I've been trying to think of the same thing. My Little Baby also starts this year & I want to set some traditions that we can do every year. So far we went & got him a very cool back pack & matching lunch box along with some new school clothes. We also got a Pencil box & decorated it, which was alot of fun to do together. I plan on taking him the first day & picking him up and of course I will be walking him in. He is so excited about going to big boy school.
I'm like you though, I want to give him something special that I can continue each year. I like the love rock Idea & the note in the lunch box. I will keep up with your post & hopefully some more ideas will come.
I am reading this too late for pre-first day activities, but I have some ideas for post first day. I liked the idea of taking your little one's picture as they walk out of the classroom. What a memory to cherish! Maybe tape your conversation on the way home in the car using your phone or some other form of technology as your big girl/boy shares their very first answer to, "How was your day?" Or, journal with your kindergartener while you eat your after school snack and write down everything he or she tells you about their day and be sure to let them illustrate their first day as well. You could also write down things like what he/she ate for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Don't forget to take a picture of the first homework session too when it happens and maybe make a copy of their assignment. I would definitely take a picture of your sweet angel as he/she drifts off to sleep after the first day of school as well. I'm thinking again of that picture. What a neat keepsake it would be to have a picture of your baby next to their own drawn picture of the first day in a frame.
My heart is with all of you tonight and I hope that everyone has a wonderful first day. I teared up reading all of your entries and even though I am still 4 years away from experiencing my son's first day, it seems so very close. I will say a prayer for all the mommas and kindergarteners tonight.
Bless you all for loving and caring for your children.
http://nieniedialogues.blogspot.com/2008/08/bell-is-ringi...
nie nie does a back to school feist! for a boy i would get him something he likes like a globe, sports item ( glove ) new card game. boys arent exactly into special things like girls and getting jewerly to mark the special day. is there a special candy he likes?
What about a special magnet or coin to start a collection? We started a magnet collection for my son when we traveled from Texas to South Dakota to see family. We bought a state magnet from each state we visited on the way. Maybe you could do a #1 magnet or something along those lines each year. My husband has a #1 son magnet from his mother on the refrigerator, and he is 39!
Another idea would be a special coin to start a coin collection. You could do the Sacagawea dollar coin, the Susan B. Anthony coin, etc. I'm sure there are enough interesting and less common coins out there to make it fun. Depending on your preferences, you could even do coins from other countries.
Brenda,
I too want to say thank you for your post! I have twin girls that will be starting kindergarten next week. I love the charm bracelet idea!! She will never outgrow that (unless the bracelet itself gets too small for her arm. But i'm trying to think of what a boy wouldn't outgrow? They go from hotwheels to game stations quickly! I was thinking of a special hotwheel collection, with a case to store them, but now I am wondering, what age do they outgrow them? Boys are as we all know, so different from girls & harder to buy for. Especially for 12 yrs of school:) I liked the one mom's suggestion of a coin collection. (maybe old coins?) If you could get you hands on 12 of the gold $1 coins that came put 8-10 yrs ago, you might could put them up & give him one each year.(ask a bank if they have any) Finding coins from 12 other countries might be difficult. Unless some of these great moms on here have access to friends in other countries. We have a daughter in Sweden so I could help you with a Swedish krona, and have a friend that has a business in China if you decide on the coins from other countries let me know. I can try to help you collect a couple from other countries. I myself save dimes :)They don't take up much room & add up fast :)
I have a 22 month old son so I am watching the responses you receive to help give me ideas for when he starts school!
You moms are great!! I love mamasource! I enjoy my morning coffee reading its request & responses! I learn so much on here!
