Free Printable First Day of School Sign
Last updated: July 26, 2024 by the Homemade Gifts Coloring Team
Do you remember that tingle of excitement as summer vacation comes to an end and the new school year begins? For me, the exhilaration of a new school year was always mixed with a healthy dose of nerves. If you have kids who might be anticipating their first day of school, you can help ease the new school year jitters with a dash of encouragement. And a first day of school sign is a great way to do it.
A first day of school sign isn’t just a cute photo op. It can also help set your kid on the right track the second the school year begins. It’s encouragement that comes from the heart, so they know you’ve got their back as they embark on their new school year.
Browse our free, printable first day of school signs for kindergarten, elementary school, and even older kids. You can grab a blank first day of school sign, or read on for some first day of school sign ideas.
All Grade Signs
Kindergarten Signs
DIY Ideas
Simply click on the sign or the text beneath to grab your free, printable first day of school sign. These printables are for personal, non-commercial use only.
My First Day of School Sign
Snatch up one of these first day of school signs so you can personalize it before the new school year begins. You can pick a simpler design, or something more bright and colorful.
First Day of Kindergarten Sign
Kindergarten is a special time for kids. It’s a big step in their lives, and it can feel both exciting and scary. Wish your child well with a first day of kindergarten sign.
First Day of School Sign Ideas
You can do so much more with your first day of school signs than simply print them out and take a photo with them. Read on for some first day of school sign ideas that are great for parents and teachers alike.
How to Make a DIY First Day of School Sign
If you want to forge your own path and make a DIY first day of school sign, there are a lot of fun, crafty ways to do that! One great way to get started is to make a first day of school sign on a chalkboard. All you need is a small chalkboard and a pack of chalk. Make sure you get a lot of different colors so you can make your first day of school chalkboard bright and colorful. Leave spaces for your child to fill in some of the information.
Stencils are another great DIY tool for first day of school signs. This works whether you’re using a chalkboard or a sturdy material. You can use the stencils to make your lettering nice and even.
How to Make a First Day of School Sign
What if you don’t want to completely DIY it, but you still want to make a first day of school sign? There are tons of ways to modify one of our printable first day of school signs. Let us do the heavy lifting with the signs above, then add your own personal touches. You can do this with things like washi tape, stickers, stencils, and markers.
Look for places to add a personal touch. For example, you might encourage your child to color in our black and white first day of school sign themself. Or you could replace the wooden border on one of our signs with a bright border made of washi tape. There are so many tiny touches you can do to personalize your first day of school sign.
What to Put on a First Day of School Sign
Now that you’ve made your sign, what do you put on it? Our printable first day of school signs offer some suggestions. They have lines for the date and the teacher’s name, for example. There are also blanks for the level of schooling the child is about to begin.
But there are lots more things you can put on a first day of school sign. It never hurts to leave a personalized message for your child. Our back to school cards offer a ton of ideas for how to wish your child a happy first day of school. You can use those phrases for your first day of school sign as well.
How to Use First Day of School Signs in Your Classroom
If you’re a teacher, you can use first day of school signs in your classroom too. Make sure you print out enough signs for all of your new students. You may want to have a couple extras just to be safe. Try to choose a design that fits your general aesthetic for your classroom. If you have a colorful classroom, for example, you might want to choose the more colorful signs instead of the black and white ones.
Giving first day of school signs to your students can make them feel welcome and comfortable right from their first day. They’re just getting to know you, and you want their first impression to be a good one. These signs might also help some of your shyer students communicate in a way that’s more comfortable for them.
All About Me Worksheets
If you're looking for more free printable first day of school ideas, print out one of our All About Me Worksheets. These worksheets are great for younger and older students to learn how to describe themselves, set goals, and break the ice among a new school cohort.
Other Great Printables to Get You Ready for the First Day of School
We have a ton more materials for parents and teachers trying to get their kids ready for the school year in our back to school printables collection. Check them all out here:
- Back to School Cards
- Back to School Coloring Pages
- Custom Name-Tracing Worksheets
- Printable Word Searches
- Printable Multiplication Charts
- Blank US Map
- Alphabet Coloring Pages
- Coloring Sheets for Kindergartners
