Rites of Passage for Back to School
It’s back to school season with the last of the schools in the U.S. starting up after this Labor Day weekend comes to a close. Children are trying on outfits, putting their names on backpacks and picking out new lunchboxes. But beyond the ritual of buying schools supplies, what can you do to create a sacred space around going back to school?
Starting a new grade is a big rite of passage for children — one that more often than not goes by unnoticed. In the flutter, hurry and relief(!) of finally getting those kids back in school, busy parents don’t have a lot of time to mark the moment. So here are 3 easy ways to honor the back to school process.
1. Special Breakfast. For many years I had a habit of making the children a special breakfast for the first day of school. The food wasn’t that fancy, just French toast and orange juice usually. But I made a special effort to set the table nicely, maybe with flowers or pretty napkins. I left a note on each of their plates with an affirmation for the year — my hopes for them that season. “May you make friends who love and respect you.” Or “This year – long division with ease!” Other options: a scripture verse to guide the year, or a favorite quote or poem about growing up, challenges, or surprises.
2. Growth Spurt: Many people have a practice of taking a photo of their children on the first day of school. Why not take it in front of something that can measure their changing height as the grow — say, with the same door frame in the background, or the swingset poles besides them. When they come home from school the first day, lay all the photos out in a row on the coffee table and let them celebrate how much they’ve grown.
3. Dreamboards. This year for back to school I made a collage for each of my girls with my hope for their learning experiences this year (both in and out of school.) I’m hoping that Cate will learn to love reading just a little bit more. (Time to give in and start buying graphic novels.) And my dream for Eden is that she discover ways to challenge her learning (even in the laid-back Danish skole system.) Both girls loved their pictures and we’ve hung them in the entry hall to keep those dreams fresh in our minds. This practice is especially nice because you can do it even if the kids’ first day has already passed
What do you do to celebrate the first day of school. What ritual or practice do you use to mark this rite of passage?
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September 6th, 2009 at 7:17 pm
Absolutely wonderful ideas! all of them! and the dreamboards are just, well, dreamy! beautiful!
September 6th, 2009 at 11:00 pm
Even without small children in a household anymore, life moments still recognized are the beginning day of school – such passages of our own always memorable:)
September 7th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
These are excellent ideas! My boys are now “grown” — one is going into 3rd year University the other starting his last year of high school. One thing I did when they were in elementary school was the growth idea you have…
There is a bench on the front lawn of the school they attended. On the first day of junior kindergarten when they were 4 we took a photo of them sitting on the bench. On the day of graduation from grade 6 we took another photograph — so they would have a visual memory of “before” and “after”.
September 9th, 2009 at 8:36 am
I was just thinking about how , at least in the UK, there is not much attention paid to the start of the new school year.
What brought it to mind was being in Latvia on the 1st of September – the day the schools go back.
First inkling that something was up, was when I saw a really smartly dressed young girl , about 6 or so. She was with her mum and an older sister but they were dressed normally. She , on the other hand, was wearing a shiny black and white striped blouse and an black tulip shaped skirt. Complete with a “proper” vintage style black handbag with a clasp.
I puzzled over her appearance for most of the bus ride ( I was just arriving from the airport).
Once in the city it all made sense – there were lots of children dressed in their best clothes. Most carrying little posies of flowers. Older people also seemed to be carrying more flowers than on other days.
And it did strike me how good it was to celebrate the start of something , and not just wait to celebrate completions.
The dreamboards you’ve made are gorgeous !
Best wishes,
Rhiannon xox
September 11th, 2009 at 6:49 am
special dinner the night before: shrimp (deep fried), spinach pie (argentine style), and sparkling cranberry juice. special breakfast: turkey sausage, sparkly toast (cinnamon sugar over butter), and fruit smoothie.
First day of first grade went well. Tito was spent after his 6 1/2 hours, almost entirely in Spanish. Thanks for the encouragement to mark the occasion in ways other than new clothes, shoes, backpacks….America is sick (I’m sure you noticed).
September 29th, 2009 at 4:21 am
This post reminds me of why I love reading your posts. Inspiration, sweetly humorous touches, thoughtfulness, colors and images, anticipation, love, and cozy, hopeful feelings – a lovely air wafting across the internet. Thank you!