First day of first grade
By Kakie Fitzsimmons, Vice President and founding partner, Farmer’s Hat Productions co-author Bur Bur and Friends children’s book series
Yesterday was the first day of first grade and my son got to be the official door opener/holder. It made him feel really important and he proudly told me and his grandma; “I’m in first grade now and I am learning how to be a gentleman.” Awww. 
What a great way to start a new school year!! It doesn’t get any better than that for sure.
Tell us a memory or story about a first day of school in your house!
Seed Newsvine
September 10th, 2007 at 3:16 am
My oldest son started preschool 2 years ago. The first day, each student took one parent to spend the day at the school, getting to know the teacher, rules, and routine. My son chose to take his Daddy. I took out my camera and snapped pictures of them getting dressed and combing their hair and walking down the street. I was crying the whole time. I couldn’t believe my little man was starting school! When they got home, before I could ask how the day went, Dru put his little hands on his hips and said, “Mom (not MOMMY, just MOM), I have lots of school left. Think we can do it without the tears tomorrow?”
September 18th, 2007 at 8:48 pm
Hi Lynn - thanks you for your post. I found a couple of other stories at the following site from the school library journal. Thought you might be interested.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/blog/620000062/post/970014097.html
October 6th, 2007 at 7:31 pm
Below is a list of ideas for celebrating the first day of school with your children. This information comes from http://puttingfamilyfirst.org - a nonprofit organization whose mission is to raise awareness about the crucial connections between parents and children, and helps families find balance in their lives.
Celebrate The First Day Of School! Suggestions from parents
• I make heart-shaped pancakes the first day of school and tuck a little note in their lunchbox or backpack. I usually take their picture on the first day and then again on the
last day of school, so they can see how much they’ve grown in that time.
• Take a picture of your child/ren on the morning of the first day of school — and try to do it in the same spot each year. It becomes a fun way to track not only the
changes in your child but also the changes in your home or neighborhood.
• Tuck a “have a great day — I know you’ll do well!” note into your child’s backpack in a place that he/she will be sure to notice as the day progresses.
• When shopping for school supplies, make sure your child picks out the necessary homework supplies, too, that can be kept near the spot where your child most likely will do
his/her homework.
• Sit down with your child before the end of the summer and establish the rules your will have for TV/computer time during the school year. They are much easier to enforce if
they are understood on day one.
• Remind your child that a good way to start a new school year is to practice that old saying —- “the only way to have a friend is to be one”.
• I have my child stand with a stiff piece of paper with “1st Day of Kindergarten” etc etc to start each school year off with a picture to compare to other years. I take a few
different poses with them holding the sign.
• We always celebrated the first day of school with a trip to our favorite ice cream shop. It gave us a special time to talk about the day; Who’s in your class? What is your
teacher like? Any homework for tomorrow?
• We always got a new outfit for the first day of school. It didn’t have to be a whole outfit but something special to mark that special day. ew shoes marked a new year!
• I wish I had thought of this one: One family took a video of their child running around the corner of the house…and they did it every year adding to the same tape. This
video was kept just for that child and was only used for this one activity. When they viewed it they saw their child growing before their eyes as well as their trees and
shrubs!
Visit http://togetherparenting.com and click on newsletter for more ideas!
October 6th, 2007 at 9:48 pm
I reflected on my son’s first day of kindgergarten in this post. It was somewhat traumatic, but somehow we all survived.