When I was in grade school, I came home the first day of every new school year to a pan of freshly baked brownies and a new box of crayons. I distinctly remember one year my mom found a “rainbow crayon” that colored multiple different colors. I was in heaven.
It wasn’t about the actual gift but about celebrating a day that is simultaneously a milestone and an accomplishment. This little back-to-school ritual made me feel loved and special.
As Easton finished his first week of kindergarten, I wanted a little something to show him the same attention. Nothing big; just a little gesture to say “I’m proud of you” and “It’s going to be a great year.”
Now that he’s a school-ager, he unpacks his backpack in the basement at his “desk” — a Little Tikes plastic monstrosity that he’s almost too big for — in case he has any homework to do. Spoiler alert: No one gives kindergarteners homework their first week of school.
But we’ve been going through the ritual anyway because it makes him feel grown-up and I encourage every attempt at independence that I possibly can. Today, I left a few surprises on his desk to find when he got home. The excitement on his face when he raced back upstairs to show me his discoveries was exactly what I needed to reassure myself that my big kid is going to be OK at his big new school.
What should a simple, not over-the-top school celebration gift include? A couple of key elements to set him up for success over the coming school year.
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Simple Back-to-School Celebration Gift for Elementary School Students
You’ll, of course, want to customize your items to match your child’s age and interests, so let’s take a “something borrowed, something blue” approach to choosing.
1. Something to read together. Kindergarten is a big year, as Easton is going to really dive into books and be able to read on his own by the time the year is finished. As an avid reader myself, I’ve been fostering a love of books since birth. Our current favorite is the Stick Dog series by Tom Watson. It’s the first chapter books we have read together, and we both look forward to reading a couple of the funny, illustrated chapters each night before bed together. Pick any book your child is into: another from their favorite series, or something focused on school.
Chapter books are great because they promote a continued interest in reading. If you haven’t started chapter books with your kindergartener, it’s the perfect time to start. Just remember to read slow! (Unlike me, oops.)
2. Something to personalize their backpack. This could be a keychain, a flashlight, a patch, or some other accessory. Something that reflects your child’s current interests and lets them personalize their backpack to truly make it theirs. The added benefit of this item is it will help your child (and you) recognize their backpack in the classroom where duplicates are entirely likely.
For Easton, I found a Teen Titans Go! blind bag keychain. For a kid obsessed with Teen Titans and the thrill of a blind bag, it was perfect. We added it to his LEGO Ninjago backpack the minute he ripped it open and found Cyborg (one of his top 6 of 12 choices, so he was pleased).
3. Something to encourage hygiene. As a boy mom, I try not to think about the fact that without someone physically standing in the boys’ restroom and forcing them, there’s probably not a ton of hand-washing going on in kindergarten. I found Disney Cars and Spider-man travel packs of hand and face wipes at Jewel for under $1, so I picked up a few packs and plan to make sure there’s one in his backpack at all time. A travel-size hand sanitizer gel is another good idea. I know the probability of their use is fairly low but I feel better knowing that I’ve done all I can to prevent the spread of germs when Easton is away from my nagging reminders. Can’t find the character travel packs? Stock up on Babyganics or Wet Ones multipacks from Amazon and always have a wipe at the ready.
4. Something to refresh your at-home school/art supplies. This is pure nostalgia, my equivalent of the rainbow crayon from 1st grade. (But see how I still remember that? Never discount the power of the littlest things to make an impact.) Buy a couple of new school supplies to have at home: markers, crayons, colored pencils, kid-safe scissors. I still love the Mr. Sketch scented markers of my childhood, and I’m sure I’ll be battling Easton for the best scent-colors next time we color together.
5. Something fun and edible. Round out the gift with your child’s favorite treat, candy or snack. You could go the homebaked brownies route like my mother did…or you could settle for a bag of M&Ms the whole family can share for dessert.
I threw together this gift with the help of Amazon Prime for under $20 and had everything delivered to my house on the first day of school. Just keep it simple and as inexpensive as possible; you don’t want to set expectations that every milestone event is something you get lavished upon with presents.
But I also believe in celebrating something every day, and this was a big week for both of us. We’re tired from the excitement and spent our Friday night curled up in bed together, reading Stick Dog and eating M&Ms. He might be an official school-ager now, but he’s still my little kid who likes cuddles, reading, and chocolate — just like his mama.
How do you celebrate life’s little moments? Share your back-to-school highlights with #NeverDoneWithFun on social media or comment below!
