One of the funniest things about back to school season is how long it has gotten. Although some of us still have two weeks before we can cheerfully (or tearfully, depending on how the summer went!) send our tiny humans back out into the real world, other parents were back on lunch box duty as soon as the calendar hit August. As it turns out, this is one of the areas where it looks like we do actually have something in common with celebrity moms and dads!
Even though some of our favorite celebrity parents are still on their amazing summer vacations, making us jealous on Instagram, others have already begun posting cute pictures of their kids starting everything from preschool to their first years at college. We have to admit that we love to see that even rich and famous parents struggle to get their teenagers to smile in photos and are making their little kids pose with the same chalkboards and lunch boxes that we use. Scroll on for the cutest celebrity kid back to school moments so far this year.
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Jana Kramer
Singer and actress Jana Kramer's daughter was all smiles as she got ready for her first day of second grade! Her brother, who was starting preschool, was not quite feeling the back to school joy, according to Jana, who posted "Someone is excited for their first day of school and someone is not . #firstdayofschool 2nd grade and the last year of preschool here they come!"
Ali Manno
Former Bachelorette and Bachelor star Ali (Fedotowsky) Manno was having all the feels about her son's first day of preschool. She shared on Instagram that "Today has been emotional for me. I may have totally broke down this morning
"I just cannot believe that this is the very last time I will have a kiddo experience their first day of preschool," she added. "It makes me sad. But so also happy and proud of Riley."
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Jesse James Decker
Cookbook author and singer Jesse James Decker's mini-me daughter looked happy to be rocking the school uniform as she headed back to school this year. Jessie reported that "Our sweet girl started 4th grade today So excited for the new school year my baby is growing up so fast So proud of her "
Melissa Joan Hart
She may have played a teenage witch on TV, but even Melissa Joan Hart doesn't have the magical ability to make a teenager smile in a back-to-school photo if he doesn't want to! Her boy crew headed to fourth, ninth, and 12th grade this year.
Ryan Lochte
Olympic swimmer and sometimes reality TV star Ryan Lochte is now a father of three. His son, Caiden, started kindergarten this year. Is it too cheesy of us to say that we hope his first day goes swimmingly? Too late! Sorry, not sorry.
Teresa Giudice
Real Housewives star Teresa Giudice is the proud mom to a brand-new University of Michigan Wolverine. Her daughter Gabriella becomes the second of Teresa's daughters to head for higher education. Eldest daughter Gia stayed a little closer to home, however, attending New Jersey's Rutgers University.
Boris Kodjoe
So technically we said this was going to be a story about celebrity kids looking cute on their first day of school. But honestly, how are we going to miss a chance to share a picture of the always handsome Boris Kodjoe? Boris (who is married to And Just Like That… star Nicole Ari Parker) couldn't help put show off his pride that daughter Sophie is starting at Howard University this fall, and we're here for that school spirit!
Sean Lowe
Another alum of The Bachelor celebrating back to school time is Season 17 star Sean Lowe, whose boys started first grade and kindergarten. He jokingly noted that it was "First day of school for my boys! Handsome and smart, their dad is the total package."
Jessica Simpson
Back to school season is, as so many of us sports moms know, also back to practice season. Jessica Simpson shared this shot of her son Ace and noted that "And so it begins! Football season I guess I need to break out my old Pom Poms because this kid is ready for some tackle football! Such a stud!"
Jessica's husband was a former football player, so we suspect this might be the first of many seasons of the start of the school year also being the start of football season!
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Savannah Chrisley
Chrisley Knows Best star Savannah Chrisley is only 25 years old but has stepped up to be the guardian and "bonus mom" for her brother and niece as her parents spend time in prison for tax fraud. She shared her first day of school pride for her niece, noting "Our sweet Coco is off to 5th grade!! My heart is so happy as we walked through her new school yesterday all I could do is cry. Chloe has gone through A LOT of change but throughout the change she has made so much progress! I am beyond blessed for her to be in an environment that encourages growth, love, and acceptance!"
Lindsay Arnold
Former So You Think You Can Dance contestant and Dancing With the Stars pro Lindsay Arnold was having all the big feelings this year as she sent her cutie off to preschool for the first time. She shared "First day of preschool my mama heart is aching and also so happy at the same time! Our beautiful Sagey girl is growing up so fast and I'm just so proud of her ❤️ she walked right in to her class today and didn't even look back which broke my heart a little but also was so happy at how happy and excited she was for her big day! She ran to me and gave me the biggest hug when I picked her up after though and my heart was bursting ❤️"
Melissa Rycroft-Strickland
Another veteran of multiple reality TV shows, including The Bachelor, is Melissa Rycroft-Strickland. Melissa, who lives in Texas and continues to work with the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders, has three kids, including one newly minted middle schooler.
Hilary Duff
Someday, Hilary Duff's daughters might find it mortifying that they were rocking matching dresses for the first day of school, but we are obsessed with how cute they look! They also had personalized lunch boxes that are beyond adorable.
Cole Hauser
Cole Hauser, who stars as Rip Wheeler on the popular show Yellowstone, is another celebrity parent who is proudly sending off a kid to college this year. Cole's oldest son Ryland (whom he shares with actress wife Cynthia Daniel, aka Elizabeth Wakefield from the Sweet Valley High series) is headed to Texas Christian University this fall.
Bristol Palin
Though she made a bit of a career for herself as a reality TV contestant, most people probably remember her most for being a teen mom as her mom Sarah Palin was attempting to become vice president. Bristol is now a mom of three, and eldest son Tripp is a high schooler.
