By Danielle Huerta
Sep 8, 2025
One of the joys of homeschooling is that “back to school” looks completely different for our families than it does for traditional classrooms. While other kids are grabbing lunchboxes and rushing to catch the bus, homeschoolers are free to step into the new year with joy and flexibility. Starting another year of school at home gives us the chance to create traditions that our kids will look forward to every single year. Here are ten fun ways to celebrate the start of a new homeschool year. 1. A Special First-Day Breakfast Kick off the year with a meal your kids will never forget. Think pancakes shaped like the year (“2025”), waffles piled with fresh fruit, or cinnamon rolls still warm from the oven. If your family is more into savory, whip up breakfast burritos or a baked egg casserole. The key is to make it different from an ordinary day—something that feels festive and says, “Today is special.” 2. A Celebratory Lunch or Picnic Take the fun into lunchtime with a themed meal. Maybe it’s “bookworm lunch” with sandwiches cut into book shapes, “science lab lunch” with little cups of fruit and veggies for “experiments,” or simply a picnic at your favorite park that is blissfully empty because all the kids have gone back to school (see #6.) No matter what you choose, eating outside on the first day can be a refreshing way to mark the beginning of the year. 3. Homeschool “Christmas” – Gifts on Day One Who says presents are just for Christmas morning? Many homeschool families love starting the year with small gifts that make learning exciting—new pencils, sketchbooks, educational games, or a fresh set of curriculum books wrapped up with a bow. Maybe even a favorite book series that they had been looking forward to reading for pleasure or supplies they would be excited to receive to start off well in a new area of study. Seeing your child’s eyes light up as they unwrap their supplies can transform “back to school” into a day they look forward to. 4. A Field Trip When Everyone Else Is Back in Class Arguably one of the greatest perks of homeschooling is beating the crowds. Once public schools are back in session, schedule your own “first week” field trip. Visit the zoo, museum, aquarium, or science center and enjoy wide open spaces without the busloads of kids. Your children will quickly learn that homeschool freedom means having the world to themselves to enjoy. 5. Reclaim the Library When schools are in session, the library becomes a peaceful oasis. Mark your homeschool kickoff with a special library trip. Let your children sign up for their own cards if they don’t have one yet, then give them freedom to fill a bag with books. End the outing with a cozy reading time together at home—maybe with hot cocoa or lemonade, depending on the weather. I love the “tea-time” trend that read-aloud lovers have adopted as a part of their homeschool day – what a special way to spend time together and learn at the same time. 6. Take Back the Park If you’ve ever tried going to the park in the summer, you know it’s packed with kids and all the negative influence that brings. But once school starts, homeschoolers reclaim the swings, slides, and open fields. Some families even host a “Not Back to School Park Day,” inviting other homeschool friends for games, snacks, and fellowship. It’s a great way to remind your kids that homeschooling doesn’t mean missing out on community—it just means building your community intentionally. 7. Plan a Mid-Season Vacation While everyone else is buying supplies and adjusting to stricter routines, homeschoolers can slip away for an educational family vacation. Think a trip to a historic site, a national park, or even a beach getaway where seashell collecting and tide pool exploring become science lessons. Due to tough economical times, I know this is not always a possibility; but the trip doesn’t always have to be extravagant. Planning a stay-cation involving all of your favorite places would be a lovely way to implement this tradition. When possible, taking a big trip as a family makes for an unforgettable time. All the better when the rest of the world is stuck in school! 8. Start a “Not Back to School” Tradition Some families flip the idea of “back to school” completely and instead celebrate a “Not Back to School” tradition. This might mean taking silly first-day photos with pajamas instead of uniforms, baking a cake to celebrate another week of summer activities, or holding a goofy awards ceremony for the family. It’s a playful way to remind kids that their education looks joyfully different. 9. Create a Time Capsule On the first day, have each child fill out a questionnaire about their favorite things, write a short note to their future self, or draw a self-portrait. Seal it all in a container and save it until the last day of school. Kids love looking back to see how they’ve grown and changed over the year, and it turns the start of school into something they’ll anticipate with excitement. Another idea to go along with the fun beginning of the year “all about me” sheets is to have siblings fill it out on behalf of one another. Over breakfast you can share all the funny responses and end with having each child read their correct responses. 10. Family Vision Night This is perhaps my favorite idea of all! I have never been able to do it, but we are doing it this year! I love the idea of kicking off the year with a family meeting where you talk about goals, dreams, and plans for the year ahead. Parents can share what they hope to focus on, and kids can set personal goals too—whether academic, spiritual, or character-based. We are even throwing in life skills that children need to work on. Remind everyone involved why you began homeschooling in the first place. Pray together over the year and maybe even choose a family “theme verse.” This tradition centers your homeschool not only on academics, but also on discipleship and growth, placing the importance on Jesus. Even including the siblings that have already graduated is a great idea. This implements the idea that after we graduate, we are not done with our education. We are now promoted to being a “lifelong learner”! Homeschooling gives families the unique opportunity to shape the rhythm of their days and seasons. While traditional back-to-school moments are often filled with stress, ours can be filled with joy, creativity, and togetherness. Whether it’s a pancake breakfast, a field trip, or a mid-season vacation, these traditions remind our kids that learning at home is not just different—it’s better. So, when the buses roll out and the backpacks are lined up, our families are celebrating in our own way—embracing freedom and Jesus while diving into another year of adventure.
_______________________________ Danielle Huerta, married for 23 years and counting, is a homeschool mother to 4 children, and new Nana to one. Having already graduated her two oldest daughters, she only has two more kiddos to go! She also is one of four administrators on the board for Foundation Christian School, a homeschool co-op where she focuses on high school families and choreography for the school's theater group. She spends her time doing women's ministry, writing books, and working on her podcast, The Peaceful Word.
