It’s become a tradition in our home, like with so many families, to take a photo of our children on the first day of school each year. It’s such an important time and it’s fun to capture the excitement, nerves, and all the other emotions as kids start back to school. I’ve seen some really cute props for back to school photos and I decided to make some first day of school signs that I could use for my kids. I hope you enjoy using these free printable first day of school signs for your kids too and treasure the pictures for years to come. Their first day of school photos would be super cute in a pencil frame!

This post was first published in 2015 but I added free pdf files for these printable signs and republished it here for new readers to enjoy.

First Day Of School Sign (Printable PDF Free)

Whether your child is starting Preschool or Kindergarten through 6th Grade, you can print one of these First Day of School signs by grade level for them.  Place it in a simple photo frame and have them hold it for a quick photo before heading off to school or when you drop them off at school.

Back to school signs always make for a fun keepsake and you can just draw one up yourself but if you aren’t great at art projects or you just can’t find the time, these printable first day of school signs will really come in handy. 

I have also upped the game by making a First Day of School printable for each year of school from preschool all the way up to sixth grade.  This really helps you remember which year it was later so you are not guessing when the photos get all mixed up later.  It is also a cute touch for sharing on social media so friends can know what grade your child is going into. Don’t forget to print out a few extras to share with grandparents! Here is the first day of school sign printable pdf bundle.

Printable First Day of Pre-School Sign

Our little guy is heading off to Pre-School this fall. He is excited one second and worried the next. I’m feeling the same! Pre School pdf

First Day Of School Signs Free Printable For Kindergarten

I remember after my daughter started Kindergarten for a full week, I asked her what she thought of it. She said, “I like it but I don’t see why we have to do it everyday.” LOL. Right there with you kid! Kindergarten pdf

First Day of 1st Grade Printable Sign

First grade is a special year as they are getting really good at reading and they are getting the hang of this whole school thing. For me it was a rough transition from my free play Montessori kindergarten to my very structured first grade experience! 1st grade pdf

First Day Of School 2nd Grade Sign

I loved doing reading time for my son’s 2nd grade class. I would read different stories from our Brer Rabbit book and the kids loved it! 2nd grade pdf

First Day of 3rd Grade Sign

I’ll never forget third grade. I got off at the wrong school bus stop and walked for half an hour before I found something I recognized! 3rd grade pdf

First Day of School 4th Grade Sign

In fourth grade, my kids started reading chapter books and found some my favorite classics from my youth like Judy Blume books or in my son’s case Captain Underpants! 4th grade pdf

First Day of School 5th Grade Sign

In Tennessee, fifth grade is the first year of middle school- such a special year to capture. 5th grade pdf

First Day of School 6th Grade Sign

I think 6th grade is the first year of middle school in most states.

Print your First Day of School Sign

To print your first day of school sign, just drag the image onto your desktop and then click on the image. Then click on file and print! Don’t forget to select the horizontal, landscape printing option. Or use the first day of school sign printable pdf above. Print the whole bundle or just the one you need.

Using “First Day of School” signs can be a fun and meaningful tradition. These signs help create lasting memories and provide a way to visually document your child’s growth and progress year by year. The photos taken with these signs can be cherished and shared with family and friends. They serve as a way to mark significant milestones in your child’s educational journey. Each sign can include details like the grade they’re entering, the date, their favorite things, and what they want to be when they grow up.

You can use a chalk markers to write the current year on the glass of the framed sign, if you so desire. You may even like to add your child’s teacher’s name so you don’t forget years later.

Conclusion

Don’t Forget! After you’ve taken your child’s picture you can remove the sign from the frame and add it to a scrapbook with the printed first day of school photo and other special photos from the start of the school year. Using these signs annually can become a beloved family tradition, giving children something to look forward to each year and helping them feel excited about the new school year. When looking back at old photos, the signs make it easy to identify which year and grade the picture represents without needing to rely on memory alone.

These first day signs can add to the celebration of a new school year, providing a positive and encouraging start. These cute signs can make the day feel special and help reduce first-day jitters by adding a fun element to the routine. I hope you enjoy these free printable first day of school signs this back to school season.  Feel free to share the link with friends if you find it helpful and pin it for next year too!

I hope your first day of school pictures turn out great. When do your kids start back to school? Do you think you will try these printable first day of school signs? Do you have a tradition for back-to-school photos of your children?

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