15 Awesome First Day of School Signs

Create a unique Back to School picture from these ideas for First Day of School Signs including FREE editable first day of school signs.  

First day of School Signs

With the time drawing near for organizing our schedules and routines… Back to School pictures, gathering your Back to School supplies on your list, finding out who our child’s teacher is, creating fun lunch box notes and the list goes on…in the midst of all of this crazy don’t forget to get creative with using a first day of school sign to capture this milestone.  

Over the last few years it has become a popular tradition of taking a picture on the first day of school – no matter the grade…even the last day of school pictures have become popular to see the progress and growth of your littles!  It really is a fun tradition to take on…even if you feel like you are late to the game, it’s never too late to capture this sweet season with your kids.  

I love the idea of a first day of school picture…I also love the idea of including the sign because it creates a prop to use, it gives a fun addition to the festive picture and it documents the important things right in the image for me to never forget!  I don’t have to stress about writing all of this down in a notebook or a scrapbook and not being able to find the information…get me?  I don’t want to look back in 15 years for a graduation slide show or graduation scrapbook and have to rack my brain on these details and what grade my little was entering!  The picture tells it all for me!  

Image by: Alyssa Dwayer Photography  – Facebook | Instagram 

1st Day of Preschool Sign

If your little is going into Preschool (like mine is this year!) there are some great props and signs that are specific to Preschool.  These signs are a great way to let them hold a prop, feel comfy and capture this year.  

Some of my favorite preschool signs are the ones you can fill in some of their favorite things that make them unique to this age of being three and four years old.  We don’t want to forget their silly answers, their wishes and wants at this age.  Having a sign you can fill in (I speak from experience –> don’t forget your chalk markers!)  will take a load off of you from having to feel like you’ve got to get creative and artsy – for which I am not, so I’m the first to raise my hand! 

TIP: Most of these can be used as a door hanger for a Back to school sign to help get us in the mood!  If they aren’t intended for that use, you can probably get creative and with a little hot glue and twine to make it into a door hanger.  

Image by: Erin Rachel Photography

First Day of Kindergarten Sign

As your kiddos get older you can possibly use the same sign you used the year before…or change it up a bit.  A few ideas for a Kindergarten sign:

• Let your child make their own first day of school sign.  Using their art skills will only make the sign and memory cuter – each year you could see how their art grows!!!  
• Get a generic board so you can continue using the sign through the coming grades. Using something like a felt board or letter board is a cute idea!  Plus you can use this board for MANY other things within your home all year around! 
• Have a first day of school and last day of school sign.
• Create a fun and unique setting for your child’s first day of school picture with their sign.  I have a few ideas below…but something like a vintage desk, apples or books. 

Image by: Tammy Lynne Photography – Facebook

If you go with a chalk board sign don’t forget your chalk markers so you can add color and fun.  Believe me I speak from experience of forgetting these!!

1st day of School Sign

Maybe you have several children and you are looking for a sign that can be used for all of them interchangeably.  I get that – as I’m all about saving money and being frugal!  Having a simple chalkboard or letter board is a great route to go!  I love the simplistic look of both of these boards…

Image by: Danielle Durie Design 

Additional Ideas:

• A chalkboard and letter board that is reversible…2 in 1!  
• Find a printable – place it inside of a frame and with a dry erase marker write on the glass the answers – wipe off for your next child!
• Take sibling pictures with them holding their school sign. 

Free Editable First Day of School Signs

An editable is a great route to go for use in multiple school years as well as multiple children – then you’ll just print it off for each child and take your picture!  These signs can be framed or put into a scrapbook for each child.  

There are a ton of free editable school signs if you do a quick search on Pinterest, Google or even Etsy (may not be free but super cute).  With so many options…from elaborate to simple…think through the items you’d want on your editable/ printable sign.  There are so many options…

• The School Year (2019-2020)
• The Grade (i.e. Fourth Grade)
• A place to put their school name
• Teacher’s name
• Questions for them to answer,
• Height
• Weight
• Age
• Name
• Date of Birth

Image by: Christine Catherall

A few resources for FREE Editable Signs:

Happiness is Homemade –  Calling all professional procrastinators (like me!)…if you always wait until the last minute to do things, no worries! You can print these back to school signs right before the kids head off to school and still manage to snap a few precious First Day of School pictures!

Housewives of Frederick County – These are super cute and have a quirky vibe to them with some fun for mama as the kids prep to head back to school!  A fun twist to this sign is mama or daddy hopping in the back to school picture with your child.  This is especially great for those Junior High/High School age students!

Simple Everyday Mom – These super cute colorful and fun printable signs are simple and classic.

3 Dinosaurs – First and Last Day Printable School Signs: These are easy to print off and use for your first and last day of school.

From ABC’s to ACTs- The back to school season is coming up quick and these printable first and last day of school signs are the perfect way to kick off your new school year! 

Artisan Life – Mermaid Back to School Sign adorable for a first day of school picture! 

Honey & Lime –  These cute DIY first day of school signs are a great school craft for kids entering preschool all the way up to the 12th grade!

Back to School Picture Ideas:

If you’ve got your first day of school sign ready and prepped – here are some great ways to creatively take this picture with your student and their sign:

• Silly Face
• Mom and Me 
• In front of your front door
• With their new book bag (we know all kids love and are so proud of their book bags!)
• With Siblings
• In front of their school
• With their teacher
• Vintage desk
• Old Books
• Vintage Globe
• Balloons
• First day of School t-shirt
• First day of school – school uniform
• By the school bus
• In school classroom
• Apples
• Silly Glasses 

Don’t be afraid to get creative using the sign, incorporate it into the day not just the moment.  I promise back to school picture traditions are for mom but you’ll never regret putting the time and energy into this tradition!

If you have more ideas PLEASE let me know in the comments – I’ll add them to the list, this little corner of the web is for everyone to learn, grow and help each other – be a part and comment!