From first-day signs for the perfect picture to personalized back-to-school supplies—get ready for a super-special year.
The first day of school always comes with an abundance of excitement, a pinch of anticipation, and maybe a few butterflies in the stomach, for parents and kiddos alike. Whether you’re gearing up to do kindergarten drop-off for the very first time or sending a well-seasoned teen off to high school, heading back to school each year marks a fresh start—and a forever-memory for the entire family.
The time for packing lunches and signing permission slips will be here before we know it, so to help you get a headstart, we’ve thought of a few fun ways to make this school year special for your whole crew. From a playful garland that’s the perfect picture prop to a backpack that shows off their personality, these thoughtful and joyous finds can easily turn first‑day jitters into all-year smiles.
Our top picks for the first day of school
First-day-of-school signs | Personalized back-to-school finds | New-school-year supplies | Back-to-school teacher gifts | Digital downloads
First-day-of-school signs
You know you won’t be able to resist snapping a picture for your colleagues, the grandparents, and anyone else who crosses your path. So why not go the extra step and get a cute little prop?
1. A custom first-day board
SHOP: Personalized first day board from My Personalized Sign, $27
Easy to repurpose year after year, this board is personalized with the kids’ names and includes spots to fill in timely details like their height and who they want to be when they grow up—at least this week.
2. A wooden grade sign
SHOP: Wooden first day sign from Dear Scout Co, $17
Made from wood and twine and available in three optional finishes, this sign adds a timeless earthy twist to first-day pics. Snap one up for every grade through high school, for consistency that’ll make for an even sweeter album come graduation.
3. A felt garland set
SHOP: First and last day of school felt garland from shop flower lane, $48
A set of two, these colorful wool felt garlands for the first and last day of school will bring so much joy! Not just a picture prop, you can also hang it up as a surprise for your kid to wake up to.
Personalized back-to-school finds
Personalization has a way of making even the most ordinary items so much more interesting. Begin the school year with these custom finds.
4. A beaded name bracelet
SHOP: Name bracelet from The Rainbow Mermaid, $14
Everyone needs a cool new accessory for the first day of school and this charm bracelet is a winner in our books. What’s even better—they come in adult sizes too, so you can get yourself a matching one.
5. Waterproof name stickers
SHOP: Waterproof stickers from Frog Box Label, $9
These genius personalized stickers do double duty, helping little ones locate their shoes and also identify the left from the right. Have a few extra? Use them for other supplies they might forget at school.
6. A monogrammed sweatshirt
SHOP: Monogrammed sweatshirt from Shop Caroline Claire, $29
A new year at school can be a fresh start. Set your kids up for making the most friends (and being the teacher’s favorite) with this monogrammed sweatshirt that makes remembering their name child’s play.
New-school-year supplies
The talented sellers on Etsy can give even straightforward school supplies a creative makeover. Check these no-so-basics off your list.
7. A set of personalized pencils
SHOP: Personalized pencils from The Positive Pencil Co, $10
A great gift for a school-bound student, these personalized pencils will ensure that taking notes is never boring again. Bring on the homework!
8. An engraved lunchbox
SHOP: Engraved lunchbox from Look Left Shop, from $42
Get the kids even more excited about lunch break with a stainless steel and wood lunchbox that’s engraved with their name. Pick from up to three partitions and four different designs to customize one to their unique sandwich and snack specifications.
9. A personalized backpack
SHOP: Personalized backpack from Stitchup Looksharp UK, $32
Available in two different sizes and more than five colors, this embroidered, personalized backpack will instantly make your kid the star of their homeroom.
10. A bag of crayons
SHOP: Rainbow rock crayons from art 2 the extreme, $24
What’s not to love about this set of rainbow rock crayons? Their unique shapes and color combinations are bound to spark creativity and turn art projects into masterpieces.
Back-to-school teacher gifts
Sweeten the chaos kids bring to the classroom with a thoughtful gift for their wonderful teachers.
11. A personalized diary
SHOP: Mid-year diary from Martha Brook, $39
Teachers can never have too many organization tools, so this diary will surely become their go-to for planning ahead. Personalized with their name and designed for a mid-year beginning, you can also order it as a set with a pen and a gift box.
12. Personalized teacher candle
SHOP: Personalized candle from Dream Cloud Co UK, $21
This candle provides a heartfelt reminder for teachers of how much everyone appreciates what they do—and a helpful assist for winding down after a long day.
13. A herbarium ballpoint pen
SHOP: Herbarium floral ballpoint pen from petite fleur flower, $22
As far as pens go, this one is pretty special. Featuring dried flowers, it can be personalized to say the teacher’s name or any other word, up to nine letters.
Back-to-school digital downloads
These items might not be on any back-to-school checklists, but they’re sure to come in handy when you’re looking for last-minute options that make the day special!
14. Lunchbox notes
SHOP: 60 lunch box notes from the hand crafted story, $7
It’s now easy to be the parent who drops a note in their kid’s lunchbox every. single. day. Just print these out and you’ll have 60 brilliant cards ready to go.
15. Printable planner
SHOP: Printable planner from Roda Viva Studio, $7
Get organized and stay on top of all the extracurricular activities with this weekly and monthly planner. Place it on a desk or stick it on a door—as long as it’s easily accessible by the kids.
16. A unicorn school cone
SHOP: Unicorn school cone from hejmaiken, $5
Extremely popular in Germany, this printable DIY school cone can be filled with candy and other little goodies like an adorable bag charm, sparkly name stickers, a llama coin wallet, or an appropriate bookmark for a first-day surprise guaranteed to start the year on a magical note.
