15 First Day of School Printables to Make This Year Extra Special

Every year, the first day of school comes and goes in a blur — a rushed breakfast, a backpack check, a quick photo by the front door. And then, somehow, it’s already September.

If you want to actually hold on to these moments — not just the photo, but the height, the favourite song, the “when I grow up” answer that makes you laugh a year later — a good first day of school printable makes all the difference. It gives the day structure, turns it into a tradition, and gives your child something to look forward to filling out every single year.

Here are 15 printable ideas to help you build your own back to school ritual, whether you’re looking for something simple, colorful, or homeschool-specific.

For Classic, Minimalist Record-Keeping

1. A grade-by-grade record page The simplest and most effective format: one page per grade, with space for the date, age, height, teacher, and school. Simple enough to print in bulk and stash in a binder for years.

2. A first day photo frame insert A dedicated frame for the “first day” photo, sized to fit a standard printed photo — no more taping photos crookedly into a journal.

3. A “school photo” companion page Pairs with your first day photo to hold the official school picture later in the year, so both photos live side by side.

4. A favourites list page Colour, food, activity, place to go, song, movie, subject — a simple checklist format that takes two minutes to fill out but becomes a time capsule.

5. A parent memories page Not just for kids — a space for parents to write down their favourite memory from the year and what they’re proud of their child for. This one tends to become the most-read page years later.

Our #065 First Day of School Printables set covers exactly this style — four double-sided pages spanning Kindergarten through 2nd grade, in a clean black-and-white design that fits any planner or binder.

For Colorful, Playful Personalities

6. An “All About Me” interview page A more detailed version with prompts like “I’m excited about,” “I want to get better at,” and “This year I want to learn” — great for kids who like to talk.

7. A favourites list with categories for friends and games Beyond the basics, add best friend, hobby, and game categories for a fuller picture of who your child is this year.

8. A star-and-color-coded design Bright colors and playful borders make the page feel like an event, not a form — especially motivating for younger kids who associate school with excitement.

9. Multiple color-way options Having 2–3 color variations (pink, teal, brown, etc.) lets you match the printable to your child’s favourite color or your own decor — a small touch that makes it feel personal.

10. A “picture of me” frame with the interview layout Combining a photo frame directly on the same page as the interview questions saves paper and keeps everything in one glance.

Our #066 colorful First Day of School printable was designed with exactly this energy — three cheerful designs, one favourites list, and space for a photo, all on a single page.

For Homeschool Families

11. A homeschool-specific interview page Swap “teacher” and “school” prompts for homeschool-relevant fields, so the page actually reflects your family’s setup instead of feeling like a leftover from traditional school forms.

12. A “this year I hope to feel” mood tracker A checkbox list — happy, curious, brave, confident, and more — lets your child mark how they hope to feel this year, which becomes a meaningful comparison at the end of the year.

13. A “this is me” photo circle A simple circular photo frame with a handwritten “this is me!” label feels warmer and more personal than a plain square box.

14. A subject and book favourites section For homeschool families juggling curriculum choices, tracking a favourite subject and book each year is a small but telling detail.

15. A red-and-black or classic black design Simple, bold colorways that don’t feel too “school-store” and fit naturally into a homeschool portfolio or keepsake binder.

Our #067 First Day of Homeschool printable was built specifically with these families in mind — interview-style prompts, a favourites section, and that mood tracker that turns into a sweet reflection tool by June.

Making It a Tradition

The printable itself is only half the magic — the other half is doing it every year, the same way, so the pages become comparable over time. A few tips:

• Keep every year’s page in the same binder or folder so it’s easy to flip through
• Take the photo in the same spot each year (same door, same wall) for a fun visual timeline
• Do it as a two-minute morning ritual, not a big production — the goal is consistency, not perfection

Whichever style you choose, the best first day of school printable is the one you’ll actually use, year after year. Pick a design that matches your family’s vibe, print a stack at the start of the school year, and let the tradition build itself.

Looking for More Systems Like This?

A first day of school photo is a great place to start, but it’s really just the opening page. Once the ritual sticks, it’s natural to want a whole system around it — birthdays, milestones, the little things your kids say — instead of scrambling to capture each moment separately as it happens.

Better systems, better days — that’s the whole idea behind SmilelineCo.

Looking for more free printables? Browse the [Free Printables Library →] for every free download we offer, new pages added regularly.

Want a full planning system instead of a standalone checklist? The [Complete Systems →] collection bundles pages like this one into something bigger, designed to work together across your whole routine — and you can browse everything directly in our [Shop →].

Setting up your own printing station? Our [Printing & Planner Supplies →] page has the exact printer, paper, and tools we use to go from PDF to finished page.