The About Me Book: A Favorite Back to School Tradition

When I was in second grade, my favorite movie was The Other Side of the Mountain—a true story about an almost-Olympic skier who was paralyzed after a near-fatal fall. I never would have remembered that detail if I hadn’t written it down in my childhood About Me book.

Looking back through those pages recently filled me with nostalgia. They were a time capsule of my thoughts, dreams, and favorites. Some made us laugh, some were surprisingly deep, and all of them reminded me of who I was at that age.

That’s exactly why I’ve carried on the tradition with my own kids. Every year during the first week of homeschool, we complete an About Me Packet. It’s a fun way to capture who they are right now—before time moves on too quickly.

And my kids LOVE it. Truly love it. It’s one of their favorite back-to-homeschool traditions.

1) First Week of School

Each day, my kids fill out a page or two as part of our morning time. They giggle, reflect, and get creative as they answer the prompts. When they were too young to write, they dictated and I wrote their answers for them. No coaching, no correcting—just their authentic thoughts.

2) First Friday (of the First Week of School)

At the end of the week, we gather as a family. Each child shares their completed packet after dinner, and we laugh, connect, and celebrate the start of our school year. Then they pull out their older packets and compare past answers. Watching how their favorites and dreams change year to year is such a joy.

Why It Matters

The About Me Packet is more than just a fun activity. It’s:

• A snapshot of childhood preserved in their own words.

• A keepsake you’ll treasure long after the school year ends.

• A way to start the homeschool year with joy and connection instead of stress.

Kids may not keep diaries anymore, but this simple tradition gives them a chance to reflect, document, and express themselves in a way that grows more meaningful with time.

A Fresh New Design

We’ve just redesigned our About Me Packet to make it even more fun and beautiful for kids of all ages. It’s perfect for your first week of homeschool—or even as part of a family night tradition.

Check out the new About Me Packet here.

Start your homeschool year with a tradition your kids will look forward to year after year.