21+ Back to School Activities for Kids, Toddlers & Preschool
These free back to school activities, crafts, and printables turn the first day of school into a day your kids actually look forward to. From printable first day of school signs and handprint keepsakes to classroom scavenger hunts and easy crafts for kids, you’ll find everything for toddlers, preschool, and kindergarten right here, all free and ready to print in minutes.
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From photo signs and interview printables to classroom scavenger hunts and welcome banners, here’s everything you need to ease those first day jitters, build excitement for the new school year, and capture just how much your kids grow along the way.
If you are looking for more fun printables, be sure to see our 10 Free Printable Reading Logs for Kids along with these 21+ Apple-Themed Crafts and Activities for Kids.
💕Don’t Leave Without Exploring These Fun Ideas!💕
Free All About Me Printable Worksheet for Kids
Grab this fun little worksheet that makes the perfect icebreaker for kids of all ages as back to school week approaches!
Free Printable First Day of School Signs for 2026-2027 (Plus Last Day Signs!)
These free printable first day of school signs come in 6 cute designs and cover every grade from pre-K through 12th grade, with high school signs labeled as freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior year. The set includes matching last day of school signs so you can take photos at both ends of the year and see exactly how much your kids grew. You can download and print them in about a minute, making them the easiest way to capture and document each school year.
3 Free First Day of School Handprint Crafts + Printables for 2026
Turn those tiny hands into treasured keepsakes with three adorable free printable handprint crafts: a bright red apple, a yellow pencil, and a dated 2026 design. These take just five minutes, barely make a mess, and work perfectly for preschool and kindergarten. Print two copies so you can compare the first day to the last and see just how much those little hands have grown!
Free Printable Ready Confetti Poem for Back to School
Turn first-day jitters into excitement with this sweet Ready Confetti tradition! Print the rhyming poem, attach a small bag of confetti (or hole-punched paper scraps), and place it on your child’s pillow the night before school for a magical surprise. It’s perfect for kindergarteners or any student who needs a little comfort and sparkle before the big day.
22+ First Day of School Activities for Toddlers, Preschool & Kinder
Get ready for an amazing start to the school year with over 22 activities specifically designed for little learners! You’ll find free printables like classroom scavenger hunts, handprint art keepsakes, first day interviews, and adorable photo sign templates that get updated yearly. The collection also includes hands-on fun like lacing cards, crayon frames, and even back-to-school slime to help ease those first day jitters while building fine motor skills.
Printable Welcome Back to School Banner (Free!)
This free printable bunting banner is perfect for decorating your classroom, homeschool space, or daycare on the first day of school. You’ll get both blank banner pieces and pre-lettered ones that you can print on cardstock, cut out, and hang with twine or clothespins. It’s an easy way to create a festive welcome display without spending any money!
19+ Easy and Fun Back to School Crafts for Kids
Get those little hands busy with over 19 creative craft projects perfect for the new school year! You’ll find everything from DIY pencil toppers and popsicle stick door hangers to a school bus countdown chain and torn paper apple art that doubles as fine motor practice. These simple, playful ideas work great for parents and teachers looking to build excitement before the first day.
18 Totally Free Printable Back to School Banners
Get ready to decorate your classroom or home with 18 adorable free printable banners featuring everything from classic pencils and crayons to notebook paper designs and chalkboard themes. You’ll find options perfect for bulletin boards, door decorations, and welcome back displays, including a Friends-inspired banner and one that comes with a bonus back to school interview printable!
All About My Teacher (Great Printable for Appreciation!)
This free printable questionnaire lets kids share their favorite things about their teacher in the sweetest way. You’ll get two versions that work perfectly for the first week of school to help students get to know their new teacher better. Younger kids can dictate their answers while you write them in, making it easy for all ages to participate.
First Day of School Printable Interview (Includes Last Too!)
These printable interview sheets go up to 6th grade and include questions about favorites, teacher’s name, stats, and even a self-portrait section. You’ll get both first day AND last day versions, making them perfect keepsakes to see how much your kids change throughout the school year. Parents love using these year after year as a tradition, and teachers can have students interview each other as a fun getting-to-know-you activity.
Free First Day of School Printable Classroom Scavenger Hunt
These free printable scavenger hunts come in two versions: one with pictures and words for younger kids who can’t read yet, and an alphabet version where older students (2nd grade and up) find items starting with each letter. Pair students up as teammates to help them break the ice and learn their way around the new classroom together, or use it during open house to keep kids entertained while you chat with parents.
58 Best First Day of School Teacher Gifts for 2026
This massive gift guide covers everything from DIY crayon wreaths and glitter pencil keychains to printable gift holders you can make at home. You’ll find options for every situation, including ideas perfect for when you don’t know the teacher yet and even a helpful teacher’s favorites list template. The collection includes both quick last-minute options and handmade projects that work great for teacher appreciation week too.
38 Extra Cute Totally Free Teacher Gift Card Holders
Gift cards are always a hit with teachers, and these 38 free printable holders make them extra special! You’ll find designs for Starbucks, Chipotle, Target, Amazon, and more, plus adorable sayings like “Thanks for teaching our little nugget” for a Chick-fil-A card. Perfect for back-to-school, teacher appreciation week, or any time you want to show gratitude.
However you kick off the new school year, the best back to school activities are the ones you come back to year after year. Print a stack of first day signs, set out the Ready Confetti the night before, and let the kids dive into crafts and scavenger hunts while you capture it all. Pin this post so everything’s ready when the first day sneaks up, and check out the related teacher ideas below.
