10 Special Ways to Make Back to Homeschool Fun!
This article is all about ways to make back to homeschool fun for any age of homeschoolers!
We all know that back to homeschool season is exciting *and* a little chaotic.
Start this new chapter off on the right foot with fun traditions you can do year after year!
These fun tips, traditions, and must-haves will help you start strong and set the tone for the whole year! ❤
Fun Ideas for Back to Homeschool
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Making Back to Homeschool Special, Fun, and Meaningful
Who says the back-to-school season can only be fun for public school families?
Let’s talk about some great ways homeschoolers can create their own meaningful, fun, and memorable traditions for back to homeschool!
These fun back to homeschool ideas bring you simple, low-key inspiration.
Let’s bring some joy to your homeschool launch, no matter your kids’ ages or homeschool style!
📚Back to Homeschool Tip 1: First Day Photoshoot
Have you seen those adorable first-day-of-school pictures where the kid is dressed in a special outfit smiling from ear to ear?
Backpack on, posed with a special sign that lists their grade outside their house year after year.
We can capture these special memories in homeschool, too!
📸First Day of Homeschool Photoshoot Ideas
Take pictures with props like:
- Chalkboards
- Grade-level banners
- Themed letterboards
- Printable signs
- Handwritten posters
Make it extra special with:
- Matching/ coordinated outfits
- Themed shirts
- Silly signs, hats, or cups
📚Back to Homeschool Tip 2: Special Breakfast
Make back to homeschool a real celebration with a special meal.
You could go all out with special decorations.
Or keep it low key and play some special music as you kick off your homeschool year!
Food ideas:
- Waffles with whipped cream
- A pancake bar
- Breakfast charcuterie board
- Muffins and fruit smoothies
Ways to make the first day breakfast even more fun:
- Let your kids help choose the meal!
- Picnic outside
- “Fancy” indoor tea party, tailgate-style buffet, etc.
Bring it back next year and make it an annual tradition to look forward to!
📚Back to Homeschool Tip 3: Surprise Supplies Basket
There’s something special about that back-to-school feeling of opening up new school supplies!
Let’s bring that to homeschool with a first day surprise school supply basket.
- Put in fun supplies like:
- new markers
- notebooks
- personalized pencils
- mini whiteboards
- cute erasers
- Add a small treat, such as:
- a book
- new headphones
- an activity book
- Optional: make it feel like a special gift with:
- gift-wrapped items
- presenting the gift in a basket with tissue paper
- a “Happy First Day” handwritten note
📚Back to Homeschool Tip 4: First Week Field Trip
Keep the first week light, but exciting, with a special outing to look forward to.
Get out and explore a:
- children’s museum
- ice cream shop
- zoo
- bookstore
- nature hike
Frame it as a celebration of the new school year rather than a conditional reward.
Bonus: tie the field trip into upcoming lessons!
📚Back to Homeschool Tip 5: Games and Icebreakers
Do first day games and special, silly icebreaker activities together to kick off the week as a fun, whole-group activity.
Choose something that works for all ages, like:
Bonus: Display something, like the “all about me” poster, on a bulletin board, or hang it up in your window!
Displaying kid’s work creates a sense of unity, empathy, and respect for one another. ❤
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📚Back to Homeschool Tip 6: Celebrate with Special Books
Start the year on a cozy, connected note with themed-read alouds, saved just for this week!
- This is My Home, This is My School by Jonathan Bean
- A Thank You Letter to My Homeschool by Deb Adamson
- I’m Learning Everywhere! by Katlynne Mirabal
- The Night Baafore the First Day of School by Dawn Young
- The First Day of Homeschool by Michelle Fredrickson
- The First Day of Homeschool by Kaitlin Harris
- Ippie Unschooled by Nicole Olson
- Miss Teacher Mom by Katlynne Mirabal
- My Mommy, My Teacher by Johanna Bluedorn
- Charlie Goes to School by Ree Drummond
- School Is Wherever I Am by Ellie Peterson
- The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson
- The Year We Learned to Fly by Jacqueline Woodson
- My Mommy is My Teacher by Jina Giusto, Danielle Giusto Maqsood, Aniruddha Lele
- Soar by Hillary Daecher
- My Schoolhouse Rocks! by Katlynne Mirabal
- The Circles All Around Us by Brad Montague
📚Back to Homeschool Tip 7: Create Something to Set Intentions for the Year
Encourage kids to think about goals for the year!
Then, display the boards somewhere you can review them midyear.
You could even set these goals for August-December, then remake/revisit goals in January!
And, you can choose to make these as a whole family, individually, or do one of each.
- Vision board
- Heart map (also a great activity to brainstorming writing topics!)
- Goal poster
- Bucket list
Related: New Year’s Resolutions for Kids: 5 Steps to Meaningful Goal-Setting
📚Back to Homeschool Tip 8: Decorate or Reveal Your Learning Space Together
Refreshing your space helps kids shift into the new year with excitement!
- Let kids help with small changes:
- new posters
- organizing shelves
- cleaning up + preparing the space
- Cover learning shelves, new decorations, etc. with tablecloths/ fabric
- Reveal the new space for the year together!
- Optional:
- Create a homeschool rules poster or personalized desk space.
Related: 15 Great Homeschool Room Ideas You Need to See!
Related: 5 Creative Homeschool Organization Ideas for Small Spaces
📚Back to Homeschool Tip 9: Start with a Project-Based Unit Study/ Theme Week
Ease into learning with a fun, hands-on unit.
- LEGO STEM challenges
- fairy-tale themed week
- outer space week
- art-focused study: Zentangle, mandala, tessellations, calligraphy, origami, watercolor, and artists
📚Back to Homeschool Tip 10: Plan the Week Together
Giving your kids choices increases the chance of them actually doing it!
Let them choose part (or all!) of the week’s activities. ❤
- Which park should we go to on Friday?
- Should we read ___ or ___ today?
- What meal should we make together?
- Want to do math or science first?
- Which writing prompt sounds good for today: ___ or ___?
Planning together builds excitement and engagement for the first homeschool week, and beyond. 🎉
Now You’re Ready for Back to Homeschool!
Remember, back to homeschool doesn’t have to be strict or stressful.
Spend this time easing into the learning and exploring this year’s homeschool rhythms.
Celebrate another year with the flexibility and creativity homeschool allows!
Comment below: What’s your back to homeschool tradition?
Snap a picture of your back to homeschool celebrations and tag me @planithomeschool! I’ll reshare a bunch of these!!
For everything homeschool, we can PlanIt! ❤
FAQs About Back to Homeschool
How can I make the first day of homeschool special?
Start with a fun breakfast and a first day pic using homemade signs or props. Add excitement with a small surprise, like new supplies or a book. Finish with a light, playful activity like a field trip, game, or read-aloud.
Do homeschoolers take first day of school pictures?
Yes! Many homeschoolers love keeping this tradition. You can use printable signs, dress up, or take silly sibling shots in your learning space, outside, or anywhere meaningful to your family.
What are some easy first day of homeschool activities?
Try an all-about-me worksheet, a homeschool scavenger hunt, a craft, or a special read-aloud. Keep it light and fun; no pressure on day one.
Should we start schoolwork right away or ease in?
It’s totally okay to ease in! The first week can be a gentle start with review games, reading, and fun learning challenges. Focus on setting a happy tone and building excitement.
What are good books to read during the first week of homeschool?
Books like The First Day of Homeschool, The Year We Learned to Fly, The Circles All Around Us, I’m Learning Everywhere!, or This is My Home, This is My School make great back to homeschool picks. Choose books that spark curiosity and make your kids feel seen and excited to learn.