20 First-Day-of-School Signs to Help You Mark the Momentous Milestone
Aww! Your kids are getting so big.
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The lunches are packed, the schedule is set, but the real challenge of back-to-school season is nailing the perfect first-day-of-school photo. You've got your outfits, poses, and setting picked out (and if you don't, check out our first-day-of-school photo ideas), but what about the props? These first-day-of-school signs can make sure your photos will go to the head of the class. Whether you're looking to track all the important information about your young scholar's first day, add something creative and thematic to a reusable letterboard, or try some out-of-the-box idea that's good for a laugh, with these in your pictures, you'll stand out among the sea of other back-to-school photos that start flooding your Facebook and Instagram feeds at this time every year. (Ah yes, back-to-school and the holidays — the two times a year you're sure to see a new photo of every kid you know cross your social media.)
Getting them to actually smile in the picture? You're on your own for that one. Well, maybe we can offer a little help: With real little ones, a photographer once suggested that saying, "Whatever you do, don't say, 'Cheese!'" will get those defiant kiddos to immediately stop what they're doing and yell, "Cheese!" The power of reverse psychology!
EmersonLaneDesignCo Printable "First Day Of School" Sign
If you're worried that your handwriting will be too illegible to read in a photo, this sign comes as a downloadable template. You type in all the info and print it at home for an easy-to-read masterpiece.
TheCheerfulChalk Back-to-School Chalkboard
This handy sign prompts you to record all of the relevant details of the moment so you can remember them for posterity. It can also be wiped clean, so you can reuse it year after year.
For those looking for more of a retro feel, this chalkboard sign looks like it belongs up front with the teacher.
RELATED: 15+ Creative First Day of School Photo Ideas to Capture Your Kid's Personality
Lemonality Reversible Before and After Sign
This chalkboard sign is reversible, so you can flip it over and use it again on the last day of school, and see how much your child has grown.
This one couldn't be any more quintessentially back-to-school, since it's not only a chalkboard, but it's in the shape of an apple.
These flags also get the point across without stealing too much of your photo's frame — plus they have a homecoming rally vibe to them.
If you're not a fan of apples, you could go with the other quintessential sign of back-to-school season: a yellow school bus. This one is sold as a set; it comes with a last-day-of-school sign that looks like the back of the bus.
This take on the chalkboard sign has a ruler frame around it to give it even more of a classroom feel. It's also reusable and works with both chalk and chalk markers.
If you don't want to go with a chalkboard motif, what about a piece of loose leaf paper? It'll bring you back to your own doodle-in-the-margins days.
Sometimes, you need the reminder. (You're never going to stop crying, though, are you?)
Once you get your "official," frame-worthy photo out of the way, some back-to-school photo booth props will let you mix it up a little so you can do a "fun" shot for Facebook. These are also good for teachers who want to take a first-day-of-school class picture.
Start of the school year with two big thumbs up!
RELATED: 15 Creative Back-to-School Hacks to Get Your Year off to a Running Start
Or, if you're not digging all of the chalkboards and want to go in a different direction, this printable sign has more of a watercolor feel, and avoids the "first day of school" phrasing altogether.
LoLueMade Hexagonal Letter Board
You can also dress up your letter board with extra accessories, including emojis, flowers, succulents, cacti, an apple garland, or fall leaves, just to make it look a little different from all the other letterboard photos out there.
After you post the obligatory first-day-of-school pic, you can re-arrange the fun letters on this sign to offer an inspirational message she can keep on her desk all year.
Older kids who believe they've outgrown the chalkboard signs might still consent to taking a first-day-of-school photo with this light-up marquee — if you promise them that they can keep it in their rooms afterward. (It changes color!)
This mini lightbox might only have enough room for a short message — "First Day!" — but it's good for those looking for a budget buy.
Or, you can use a photo frame. This one splits the difference between looking like a cell phone and an old-school Polaroid.
Why wait until next year to do this all over again? You can stock up on everything you need with this 10-sign printable pack.
Marisa (she/her) has covered all things parenting, from the postpartum period through the empty nest, for Good Housekeeping since 2018; previously, she wrote about parents and families at Parents and Working Mother. She lives with her toy-collecting husband and daughter in Brooklyn, where she can be found helping out her team at bar trivia or posting about movies on Twitter and Bluesky.
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