Hold a Scavenger Hunt for school items for the day before where your kids have to hunt out the new bits that you have bought over the holidays for their back to school bags.

The night before going back to school, snuggle up and read a special story together. Here are a couple of nice ones to try:

• The Pigeon Has to Go to School by Mo Willems is a hilarious story perfect for those about to start school or nursery.
• Charlie and Lola – I am Too Absolutely Small for School by Lauren Child is a classic first-day-at-school tale addressing children’s fears with warmth, humour, and a lot of fun.

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Our editor Emily says her daughter gets to pick her “hangman’s dinner” i.e. her choice of her favourite meal for the night before back to school. This year it was cheesy chicken nachos followed by an ice cream sundae.

Emily says, “My grandmother used to do it for my dad and his siblings, then for me and now I do it for my daughter. It always made back to school a little less daunting, and we used to see how ridiculous we could make our dinner choice!”

The School Fairy might plan a visit to bring some new bits e.g. lunchbox, notepad, pens that your child can enjoy.

A few parents said they like to make pancakes for back to school first day of school. Or maybe your child has a favourite breakfast that they get at weekends that you could make.

Mum Sarah said she gives her daughter a new backpack charm or key ring each year to mark the occasion.

If you have Elf on the Shelf in your house, maybe Elf would like to write a little Good Luck for School message!

Of course there has to be a first day of school photo taken, but if you run out of time then you can always do it the day before or the day after.

You could add a little gift like a mini notepad or toy car or a surprise food item that your child wasn’t expecting in their lunch.

Put a little note or print something fun to put in your child’s lunchbox to make them smile when they open it.

You might like to write a good luck message in chalk on the driveway. Then when your child steps out in the morning they see it.

Either using chalk or if you have a light box why not make a Welcome Home message? Something to make them smile when they get back from school.

We always buy doughnuts for a special after school treat. Mum Clio says “We usually go for cupcakes after school. This year it will be a take out order of cupcakes to enjoy at the house”.

You could make a special lunch or tea / dinner to cheer them up after 1st day back. Or maybe you could bake something together when they get back from school.

If your child has a favourite snack, then you can prepare that for after school – my eldest daughter always loved cheese quesadillas, some delicious savoury muffins, or you could try a classic chewy chocolate chip cookie that can be whipped up in minutes!

Need more inspiration? Here are 11 yummy ideas for healthy (and easy) after school snacks, guaranteed to placate even the hungriest monster!

A nice tradition is to get your child to do a little First Day of School Interview. They write down some facts about themselves and their feelings for this school year.

Download our free printable First Day of School Interview.

Your child could pick their choice of a movie to watch with you after school.

Your child might like to put together a school year bucket list. This could include things they would like to achieve school wise but also other things like after school activities or new things they want to learn.