The first day of school is a big event for every parent — it requires thought, preparation, and patience. But what kind of time and planning does it take for a parenting influencer to make sure their kids have the best first day possible and there's plenty of content to post about it?
As Kayzie Weedman (@heyitskayzie) [1] puts it, "The first day of school starts long before that morning." The self-described DIY and mom-hacks influencer with 714,000 Instagram followers starts planning for back-to-school weeks in advance.
Weedman spends a few weeks going back-to-school shopping, labeling supplies, figuring out lunches, and shifting her kids' routine. When the first day of school finally comes around, Weedman takes an extra 10 to 15 minutes capturing photos before putting her phone away.
"I think people sometimes assume creators are constantly filming every second, but the reality is you're seeing a tiny glimpse of our day," she says. "Most of the work actually happens before and after, planning ideas, editing, writing captions, and putting everything together once the kids are at school."
Mackenzie Hyland (@mackenzie_hyland) [2], who posts content about motherhood to 178,000 Instagram followers, seconds this: "I try to plan my content ahead of time so I can fully be present with my kids on important days like the first day of school. Sometimes that means waking up before my kids to create content or capturing certain moments in advance."
For Hyland, an important tradition is getting photos of her kids in a "special first-day outfit" with a banner. She also likes to lay out their clothes, put a few decorations around the house, and make an especially "fun" breakfast.
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"As a mom, on the first day of school, my main goal is to cheer them on and create traditions they'll look forward to year after year," Hyland says.
Parenting influencers might also start rolling out back-to-school content long before the actual first day of school, which can put less pressure on one morning. Even months before the first day of school, Weedman and Hyland post about their must-haves, back-to-school routines, and what they did last year.
For example, Weedman recently shared a video [4] of her child starting kindergarten in 2025. It includes a breakdown of how she decorated the house and an offer to send information about all the products she used to commenters. The Reel ends with Weedman hugging her son before he heads to school.
Of course, for these creators, brand partnerships are also a big consideration. For Hyland, early back-to-school content has included two branded posts. In the first, she shows her "4 back to school must haves," courtesy of different products from a lunch box and accessory company. The other, with a lactose-free milk brand, takes the viewer through her morning back-to-school routine, including laying out new clothes, a backpack, and making breakfast.
"I try to plan my content ahead of time so I can fully be present with my kids on important days like the first day of school."
Weedman and Hyland might include decorations and new outfits in their back-to-school content, but that's not the case for all parenting influencers. Kacie Barnes (@mamaknowsnutrition) [5], a registered dietitian "helping busy moms stress less about feeding kids," focuses her posts around what her kids will have for lunch. Year round, her content focuses on recipes and what her children eat, so it's no surprise that the main thing she captures on the first day is a quick photo of her kids' lunchboxes [6].
Barnes notes that social media can make it seem like every parent is creating a "perfectly curated" morning for their children, but stresses that it's not true for her and many other families. Instead, she prioritizes giving viewers a taste of her family's "actual reality."
"I don't do any special photo shoots beyond snapping a quick pic on the porch before they leave. I don't like for them to feel like they have to look a certain way or perform for the camera — I just want them to focus on getting ready and feeling good for their first day," says Barnes, who has 515,000 followers on Instagram. She also foregoes new first-day outfits in favor of clothes her kids are already "comfortable" in.
No matter their traditions or content, the three women underscore that being present with their kids is the most important aspect of the day.
"I want my kids to actually experience their first day, not feel like they're on a set," Weedman says. "My priority is being present. Those first-day hugs, nervous smiles, and little moments only happen once, and I never want content to take away from that."
Sarah Fielding [7] is an acclaimed journalist with seven years of experience covering mental health, social issues, and tech for publications such as PS, The Washington Post, The New York Times, Insider, and Engadget. She's also a cofounder of Empire Coven, a space highlighting trailblazing women across the United States.