Inside: Want a fun and simple way to get kids excited about school? Then you need a visit from the Back to School Fairies to help get your kids excited for school this fall.
Right before my son’s first day of Kindergarten, he started talking about how worried he was about the summer ending.
He did not want to go to school even though his big sister told him how awesome “big kid school” was.
My little guy was not having it. He did not want anything to do with school.
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The real problem was his preschool teacher was just plain awful for him.
He came home with stomach aches every day so getting him ready for school every morning was torturous.
He was miserable at school, miserable going to school and miserable being picked up from school.
I was beyond frustrated that he was not enjoying school.
Because let’s be honest. If preschool’s not fun, we’ve got serious problems.
So, I needed to change my son’s attitude.
I needed to adjust his way of thinking about school.
And I needed to get him excited to go back to school.
So the Back to School Fairies came to our house the night before school started which changed everything for him.
Why it’s important to help kids get excited about school:
Maybe it’s because I was a teacher, but I love school. And I want my kids to love school too.
I want my kids to get excited about what they’re going to learn, who they’re going to meet, and what prizes might be waiting for them in their class’ prize box.
Related: Make a Paper Chain Countdown to Get Excited for School
Plus, from Kindergarten to their senior year in high school, kids will spend 180 days per year x 13 years = 2,340 days in school.
Wouldn’t it be so much easier and more fun if they didn’t hate those 2,340 days?
Wouldn’t it be awesome to not have to drag them out of bed every morning?
Or beg them to get ready for school faster?
Or finally, finally finish their homework?
RELATED: How to get kids to sit still long enough to do their homework
When kids enjoy school, or at the very least, not hate school, your mornings and afternoons will be so much calmer and more enjoyable.
So we talk about how they get to go to school instead of saying they have to go to school.
And we make a Back to School Paper Chain Calendar Countdown.
And we asked the Back to School Fairies to visit the night before school starts every year.
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Back to School Fairies Get Kids Excited About School
In our family, we don’t do Elf on the Shelf. But we do believe with our whole hearts that Santa, the Easter Bunny and the Kindness Elves all hang out for tea and live for the day when they can come visit our home.
So introducing a new magical being was not too hard of a sell for my kids.
We added the Back to School Fairies to the list of magical creatures we believe in.
Who are the Back to School Fairies?
The Back to School Fairies are in charge of bringing awesome school supplies to kids the night before they start a new school year.
And they’re pretty smart.
They always know when your kids are starting a new school year.
They know exactly what to pick out to get kids excited for school.
And then the fairies come the night before the start of a new school year and leave a goodie bag to open in the morning.
Sometimes the fairies bring fun school supplies my kids never knew they needed, like a reading bookmark timer or smelly markers.
Sometimes they stick in something silly, like new underwear the kids really, really needed.
They often bring something my kids were just dying to have when we were in the store, like a hot pink ruler covered in flowers.
The Back to School Fairies almost always bring a book, because books are the best gifts ever.
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And they leave a note wishing my kids a good first day with a reminder to try their best and have fun at school.
My kids now look forward to the first day of school more than ever.
Because they know it comes with a bag of goodies.
But the Back to School Fairies don’t visit every house. Obviously.
So I warn my kids the fairies don’t go to every house so my friends and neighbors don’t hate me.
My kids know the Back to School Fairies only go to a few houses. And only to the houses that really, truly believe in them.
It’s a pretty special thing.
Gift ideas the Back to School Fairies Bring to Get Kids Excited About School:
The Back to School Fairies love to bring things that get kids excited to work on their homework and their school projects or things they can wear to school:
- Smelly markers like these from our childhood!
- Gel pens
- Stickers
- Rulers
- Kid’s Dictionary
- Mini Stapler
- Glue sticks
- Crayons, markers and colored pencils
- Fun socks for Princess fans and Star Wars fans
- New brush and hair ties
- Reading bookmark timer
- 1st Day of School Books! Our absolute FAVORITE Back to School Books are:
Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten,
Back to School Fairy Ideas for Older Kids:
- accessories: scrunchies, necklaces, earrings
- clothes or bracelets in school colors
- locker mirror
- locker accessories and organizers
- earbuds
- colorful sharpies
- purse, wallet
- waterbottle
- Pop It fidgets
Older students love the back-to-school fairies just as much as the younger kids do. And they can help be the fairies for their younger siblings.
Tanya Kreger says
I think I WILL invite the Back to School Fairies! I just thought of a few goodies to include: reusable snack sacks (I have a few from Generation Me from etsy and love them with their Velcro closure), a large pencil case for my daughter so that she can tote her snack to school all organized and stylish complete with a small ice pack just like my son does. For her–new barrettes or bows. For him–new sporty socks, which he loves.
Thank you for the terrific ideas!
Nicole Black says
I hope it helps gets them excited for school!
Kay says
Wow, what great ideas. My almost 12 yr old is not looking forward to school. As it gets closer to September, she gets more anxious. She starts middle school. I will certainly try your great ideas.
Jaime says
Adorable idea! My oldest begins kindergarten and my middle preschool this year, and this would be a lovely tradition.
www.apartamentyrok.pl says
Thanks for blogging this, it was unbelieveably informative and helped me tons