5 Tips for the First Day of School

This post is sponsored by Tom’s of Maine and all opinions are my own.

The first day of school for little ones is a big deal for the child and for mom. As much as you know your little one is ready, there is a battle of emotions going on in your heart as you drop your child off. In order to help you prepare, here are some tips for moms for the first day of school.

Prepare the night before.

The morning of my son’s first day of kindergarten, I was a bundle of nerves! He was my oldest heading off to school and I could barely focus. Having everything prepared the night before took away all of the extra worries.  Now that they are older, on the first day of school, I give them each a new tube of Tom’s of Maine Toothpaste for a fun treat when they wake up.  I want to encourage them to brush their teeth every morning, without a constant reminder from me.

Allie loves the taste of the Silly StrawberryTM Fluoride Free Toothpaste. I love the fact that it uses calcium and silica to clean their teeth gently.   Ethan prefers the Children’s Gel Fruitilicious. It works to fight cavities and strengthen enamel. Since all Tom’s Of Maine® products are made without artificial colors, flavors, fragrances or preservatives, I feel good giving it to our kids.  All of our kids also get new Tom’s Of Maine® toothbrushes. They are BPA-free, plant-based and they fit perfectly in a child’s hand.

The night before the first day of school, we also laid out clothes, their Tom’s Of Maine® deodorant, made lunch, and ensured book bags were all ready.
This is the deodorant that we got them for school. I like knowing that it is safe, there is no aluminum, no parabens, no artificial fragrances…


Plus, it offers 24-hour protection with a fragrance that kids really like.



All of the Tom’s of Maine products can be found at Sprouts and you can feel great buying it because by choosing Tom’s of Maine, you are helping children in need get essential school supplies. See what I mean here.

Take pictures, but know it does not have to be perfect.

You will want to remember this day! Plus it is funny to look back at all of the pictures each school year. However, do not feel like you need to have a fancy first day of school picture. Simply take a picture of your child and you are set! If you want to have him/her hold a sign or have an elaborate background go for it, but know that those things are not necessary, so do not stress!

This was ours a few years ago… and it’s one of my favorites (Allie realized that her brothers were all going to school without her — so came the tears).

Accept your emotions.

Many times we try to stuff down our emotions, but that only leads to problems further down the road. Accept the emotions you are having and acknowledge them. It is okay to mourn the loss of a season. Take time to mourn it and then move forward with joy!  New chapters of your life are starting — no, your child might not be home with you all day, but what fun you will have to see all of the fun things that he does in school.

Be excited!

I know, I just told you to accept your emotions, but do add in some excitement, even if you have to fake it at first. Your child will be taking cues from you. Act excited about the first day of school and eventually, you will both catch onto the feeling! Also, be excited about this new season! What does it have in store for both of you? Finding the good in each season, helps us to grow into healthier people.

Have a plan for the day.

If you are a working mom, make sure you go about your day as normal so you do not sit and worry. If you are a stay-at-home mom, consider setting up a play date with your other kids or a lunch date with a friend. It is helpful for that first day if you have some plans to keep your mind off of wondering what your little one is doing all day.

Are you ready for the big day?  It is going to be a great first day of school! It may be a hard adjustment at first, but just like with anything new, eventually it will seem as normal as everything else!

What tips would you add to this list?