a new school year... GRAND tips to support the transition!

Our Grand Lives
1 day ago
8 min read

Thursday, August 21, 2025

Back-to-School season has always been

one of our favorite times of the year!

While we know that many Littles around the country

have already headed back to school or soon will be,

here in Minnesota,

we typically begin a new school year the last week of August

or right after Labor Day.

So, getting ready for Back to School is a big deal right now!

As retired kindergarten teachers, we both recall that familiar rush when the calendar would turn to August each summer! Yes! There was sadness that our glorious summer was coming to an end. Yet, at the same time, the thought of brand-new backpacks, colorful supplies, and the promise of a clean slate filled our hearts with all the possibilities ahead!

We will forever think of our “new year” beginning in

September rather than January!

These days, however,

we are looking at this “season” through a different lens

- not as a classroom teacher or as a parent -

but as a GRAND….

someone who can support our Littles (and their parents)

during this often hectic and chaotic time of year!

This week’s post is devoted to this topic!

Back-to-School season always brings its own kind of buzz! Our Littles (our grandkids) are filled with that mix of butterflies and excitement as they step into a fresh year and their parents are juggling a hundred moving parts! We GRANDS have the unique opportunity to offer our support during this transition without adding our own layer of chaos to the mix! Whether you’re nearby or cheering from a distance, there are plenty of fun and meaningful ways to do so!

Of course, no Back-to-School post would be complete

without including a trip down memory lane!

The thoughts of past first day moments come to mind!

New outfits, new teachers and new classrooms!

As children ourselves….

Then as new teachers…

(don’t you love those 80’s haircuts!)

Then came the years of balancing the start of a new school year

with the realities of wearing our “mom” hats at the same time!

Now, as GRANDS, we are looking toward the future

when our own grandkids - our Littles -

head off to school for the very first time!

THIS YEAR!!!

Preschool awaits both of our oldest Littles!

What an adventure that will be!

How did these two grow up so quickly???

The start of a new school year can bring shifting schedules, busy evenings, and the challenge of settling into new routines. Grandparents who live near their Littles and their families can be a tremendous help during this time of transition!

TIPS WE LOVE!

These are all traditional ways

GRANDS can step in and provide practical support!

✏️ Before or After School Care!

Many GRANDS help in this important way by dropping off/picking kids up from school or joining them at the bus stop when parents’ schedules are tight!

✏️ Homework Helper!

Local GRANDS can provide a quiet and calm space for Littles to “practice” school, tackle homework or spend time reading - either in the Little’s home or their own!

✏️ Food Delivery!

What family wouldn’t appreciate a ready-to-go breakfast, an after-school snack or a meal or two that’s been prepped and left in the freezer? Or, what about a family dinner that’s waiting in the oven or fridge once they arrive home?

Laura’s Breakfast Burritos can be made ahead of time

and frozen for a quick delivery!

They are easy to warm up and always a fave!

✏️ Be a Cheerleader!

Again, GRANDS who live nearby can regularly attend sporting events, school concerts or other events to provide an extra boost of encouragement!

HOW ABOUT THESE FUN IDEAS?

In addition to the tips described above,

here are a few more memorable ways we’ve found

for us GRANDS to support and celebrate our Littles as they start a new school year!

✏️ Have a School Supply Scavenger Hunt!

Before the new school year begins, create a list of school supplies you’ve hidden around the house (add visuals/photos of each for young Littles). Give each of your Little(s) a small “shopping” bag (or a backpack) and let them go in search of the listed supplies! Older Littles will love it if you create a scavenger/treasure hunt for them that includes a clue for each item!

Look at this fun checklist Laurie created for her Littles

on a recent trip to Target!

✏️ A Fashion Show!

Let your Littles show off their new school clothes with a fun family fashion show!

Laura has fond memories of the fashion shows she and her brothers would put on each fall for her parents and grandparents - down the runway (the hallway) and narrated by a cassette tape recording they’d made, including mood music, to go with it! Those quick changes were something!

✏️ Go On a Date!

Start a new tradition and make this an annual event! Before the new school year begins, treat Littles to a special outing. You can take all your Littles on the same date together or plan separate special activities, specific to each Little’s interests. You could go to lunch at a favorite restaurant, enjoy an annual breakfast/donut date together, go clothes shopping, pick out a new book or spend an afternoon playing mini-golf!

✏️ Give Back!

Together, with your Littles, fill a backpack or two with needed supplies ahead of an upcoming school year and make a donation to a local school! This would be a fun tradition to establish with your Littles each August and it can be a great opportunity for a teachable moment!

An added touch might include

taking a moment together to pray

for the Little who will receive your donated supplies!

Even if miles separate you from your grandkids, you can still play a role in their Back-to-School season. With a little creativity, it’s possible to stay connected, share in the excitement, and cheer on your Littles as they begin a brand-new chapter in their lives. Check out our tips for making this time feel extra special from afar… for you and your Littles!

✏️ A First Day Surprise!

Mail a card, care package or a small gift so it arrives at your Little’s doorstep before school begins! This will remind your Little that you are thinking of them!

Don’t forget about the parents, too! Text or call your adult kids to cheer them on, as well. Sometimes, a “you’ve got this!” means more than you might realize!

✏️ Provide Meals from Afar!

What an unexpected but appreciated gift this would be! Arrange grocery delivery or send a gift card for takeout during that hectic first week.

✏️ Offer Virtual Childcare!

Hop on a video call to read a story, play a game, or to keep your LIttles entertained while parents tackle prep work or unwind. You can even make this a weekly check-in for added support and fun! These check-ins will also provide a great opportunity to hear about your Little’s classes, teachers and friends on a regular basis!

✏️ Check-In Fun!

When checking in virtually with your Littles, be sure to ask how the school year prep is going for them and for mom and dad! In addition, try one of these fun Back-to-School activities with your Littles!

A Game! What’s in My Backpack? is a fun game to play as you learn more about the school supplies your Littles need for the year ahead! Without your LIttles looking, put one school supply in a backpack. Give clues (one at a time) to your Littles about what’s inside and see how quickly they can guess what’s inside! After you’ve played a few rounds, your Little can try and stump you, too from their end, by filling their own backpack and making you guess!

School Jokes! Never underestimate the power of a joke or two! Your Littles will be tickled if you share some school-centered jokes with them! Here’s a few to get you started!

Would You Rather… Back to School Edition! This is a fun way to share thoughts when presented with silly, tricky or surprising situations! You’ll love hearing your Little’s responses to each scenario and they will be equally intrigued to discover your answers, too!

Feel free to use our graphic below! Of course, feel free to come up with your own Would You Rather? Questions, as well!

Your listening ear - whether near or far - can make a BIG difference!

Even simple things

- like hearing highlights from the first day or helping to reinforce new routines -

can support the whole family adjust more smoothly

to the Back-to-School season and all it brings!

If you have tips for things you've done to help your own family prepare for a new school year,

PLEASE SHARE!

We learn so much from this community!

Simply comment at the end of this post!

Once again, THANK YOU for taking the time

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We’ll be back with two new posts next week!

We look forward to sharing our ideas for celebrating The First First Day!

Yep!

Both of us have Littles - our oldest granddaughters -

headed to preschool for the first time this fall!

We are SO excited for them!

We’ll also be back to share our monthly Life Lately post

as we bid adieu to August!

Please join us then!

As a new school year begins, we GRANDS have a unique opportunity to support not only our Littles, but our grown children - their parents - as well.

Whether it’s lending a hand with busy routines, offering encouragement from afar, or simply being a steady source of love and reassurance, your presence makes a difference! These small acts of support—both practical and heartfelt—help lighten the load for parents and remind our Littles that they are surrounded by a circle of love.

Back-to-School season is more than fresh supplies and new schedules; it’s a chance to strengthen family bonds and show up for one another in meaningful ways.

And perhaps the most powerful way we can support our families these days

is to lift up our prayers on their behalf as they step into this new year!