Article by Kara Schwalbe

Photos by Mackenzie Scheie Photography 

Just like that, the back-to-school season is almost upon us. Your social media feeds will soon be full of tips and tricks to make this year's transition back as smooth as possible. Even the local news will get in on the trends. It is absolutely worth it to start practicing school-day mornings and talking about what's to come, especially if your kids are in elementary school or younger. But there is one more thing you may want to add to your end-of-summer prep: starting a first-day-of-school tradition.    

Back-to-school is an annual milestone, a snapshot in time of your growing-way-too-fast kids. It's fun to look back on the years, see how much they've changed, and realize who they're becoming. A first-day tradition is a beautiful way to mark the beginning of each new chapter.   

Fortunately, traditions don't need to be big, fancy, or require an evening of preparation before an already stressful day. The most successful traditions are usually the ones that are easy enough to execute and align naturally with your family values. They create lasting memories and encourage a deep sense of belonging. Heather, a mom of twins who just graduated this year, shared that her family worked together each fall to bake a school-bus-shaped cake and had Softies for dinner the night before school started. “Having traditions is something we all love to do and look forward to,” she reflects. “It was a way for us to build our family, and we are closer because of it.”    

These rituals are not only something you'll cherish down the road, but they also help immensely in the moment.  Knowing how things will go each year provides comfort for children. As much as your kids may eventually roll their eyes, being grounded by a familiar home ritual can ease those inevitable first-day jitters. Just as importantly, it serves as a reminder to us parents to slow down and savor the moment. Kenna, a local Billings mom, says each year her son shares about his first day of school over fresh-baked cookies, while Ashley takes photos of her kids in front of their fireplace holding those popular first- and last-day milestone boards.   

When I was a kid, our neighborhood gathered on the first day of school for group photos under our street sign. I treasure those photos today, looking back at our awkward innocence and remembering the little moments as we stood outside early in the morning. No matter what you choose to do, and even if it evolves over the years, taking a deliberate moment to mark the day will give you something beautiful to look back on.  

Need some inspiration? Here are a few low-stress ideas to help you find the perfect one for your family:   

• Indulge in a special breakfast: Pass on the standard cereal for a morning and whip up fancy pancakes, or make a quick run to a local bakery for special treats. 
• Take a front-door photo: Keep it simple, or use a milestone board marking their current age, teacher, and interests. 
• Watch them grow into their future: Buy an oversized adult T-shirt featuring their high school graduation year (e.g., Class of 2038) and take a photo of them wearing it every autumn to track their growth visually. 
• Celebrate after school: Set up a standing date for post-school ice cream or cookies to download all the details of their day. 
• Chalk the walk: Decorate the driveway or sidewalk the night before with encouraging messages to put a smile on their faces as they head out. 
• Pack a lunchtime surprise: Sneak a supportive, handwritten note or a favorite treat into their lunchbox. 
• Celebrate School Year’s Eve: Before the hustle and bustle of the morning hits, make the evening before school starts a special family night with a favorite movie or dinner or a trip to Softie’s. 
• Conduct an annual interview: Ask them the same set of simple questions every year on video and watch how their answers change over time. 
• Create a family motto: Establish a phrase to anchor your family for the upcoming year, such as "choose kind" or "progress over perfection." 
• Fill a mini time capsule: Fill a small jar with a current photo, a drawing, and a list of their favorite things to open on the last day of school. 

Originally printed in the August 2026 issue of Simply Local Magazine

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