It's not every day your little one starts school, so why not make it a moment you won't forget and add one of these first day of school boards to your school supplies list? Perfect for photo opportunities, these boards can be brought out every year to snap those precious memories.
There are plenty of options to choose from including wooden, chalkboard and whiteboard-style designs, many of which can be personalised with their name, what class they're going into and their favourite subjects or things to learn.
Editor's Choice:
•Best for a theme: Unicorn First Day of School Chalkboard - Buy now on Amazon
•Best for a multipack: Sumind First and Last Day of School Chalkboard Sign - Buy now on Amazon
•Best for a downloadable sign: LittleMusePrintables Editable First Day of School Sign - Buy now on Etsy
•Best for gifting: Personalised First Day Of School Chocolate Board - Buy now on Not On The High Street
Many of these back-to-school signs are reusable, which is great if you've multiple children heading off to different year groups, as they can all have their special moment to enjoy, or you can purchase multiple options for a super-cute group photo in their fresh school uniforms! Check out our favourite options below.
The best first day of school boards:
Best for a theme
Available in black and pink, this board is perfect for little unicorn fans and has plenty of space to write their name; what year they're going into; the date; how old they are; who their teacher will be; what their favourite colour is and what they love doing. Just grab yourself some liquid markers and get writing!
A reviewer said: "I was a slight bit sceptical when buying this but once I got it arrived it was perfect. It’s thicker than cardboard and has a nice gloss finish. I bought a chalk marker from Walmart and it worked perfectly! It wipes off so easily and it's such a great price!"
Best for a multipack
Made from high-quality 350 gsm cardstock and coated in PET film, these boards are both wipeable and reusable. They're waterproof too and there are three layers, so they shouldn't tear easily. We also love that there's one to celebrate the last day of school as well.
One parent said: "These are really lovely came in a pack of 2. It's strong cardboard rather than chalkboard slate style. They are clear and easy to read when your child holds them for a picture."
Best for a downloadable sign
www.etsy.com
If you want your sign to arrive sooner so you won't forget to order it, or you want to take the photos before the big day (as that first morning could be hectic), this downloadable sign is the one to go for. Bear in mind that you will have to print it yourself, or edit it into a photo.
Best multipurpose option
For something a little more generic, how about this letter board? It comes with 690 interchangeable letters, numbers, symbols and punctuation, as well as a bag to store all of them in. Once you've taken the photo you can re-use it to create a stylish homeware piece.
One reviewer said: "If you have patients it’s great! The board once it was done looked fab, the letters, numbers and symbols came on a plastic sheet you needed to snap off to use, which did not snap, I had to get scissors to cut them, which then left on all my letters an excess nub, so as time-consuming and fiddly as it was to take all the letters off I needed, I then had to cut off the extra pieces on the letters, which wasn’t as easy as it sounds."
Best with handles
www.etsy.com
This wooden board is beautifully designed to your liking and has handles so that your little one can hold it comfortably. Simply add their name and it will be laser cut with precision. Don't forget to add a chalk pen to your order if you don't have one!
Emma (a reviewer said): "The quality of this is stunning and I can’t wait to capture a snap of my little girl off to big school (and each year after!) in September. The quality of the packaging was great too, properly set inside a card surround to stop it from rattling about. Highly recommend!"
Best for simplicity
www.etsy.com
Short and sweet, this sign can be reused for years to come to capture those all-important memories. It has been laser cut but extra details have been added by hand, like the painting of their name (which you can choose the colour of), and you can use it for all sorts of clubs and events too.
Reviewer Michelle Smith wrote: "An absolutely beautiful product. We shall use this for years to come. We chose this one as we felt it has multiple uses - not just for school, but for other 1st days, such as rainbows, etc."
Best for a wooden option
www.notonthehighstreet.com
We love the rustic feel to this board and it gives off plenty of back-to-school vibes with the little illustrations. It's made from eco-friendly materials and can be written on with chalk.
Best for gifting
www.notonthehighstreet.com
Treat your little ones to something sweet to celebrate the beginning of term with this giftable board. It's A3-sized and has multiple personalisation bits to fill out. You can also choose whether you want the chocolate sent to you, or if you're happy to buy your own.
Things to consider when purchasing a back-to-school sign
Reusability - Check that the sign is reusable before purchasing it. That way, it will save you money as it can be reused every year (from nursery to big school and beyond) and each adorable photo will act as a marker for how much your child has grown. We love the reversible options which can also be used for their last day of school.
Personalisation - Many back-to-school boards can be customised to order with your child's name and colour of choice. Some of them only have one or two boxes to fill in, but others have lots including: name, date, class, teacher, hobbies and favourite subjects or things to do at school, favourite colour, best friend etc..
Material - The type of material the sign is made from can affect how durable it is. Some card options can be easy to bend and become flimsy, whilst whiteboards and chalkboards may be easy to smudge. Each design has its own pros and cons, so it comes down to preferences and budget.
Size - It's worth looking at the weight and dimensions of the board before you purchase it, as it could be too big or too heavy for your little one to hold. Equally, you don't want it to be too small either as you may not be able to fit all of the text in the boxes and it could be hard to read when you look back on the photos. Some options come with handles which can help.
Stationery - You may need special pens or chalk to write on the board, along with a cloth or eraser to clear it off or remove any mistakes. It's important to double-check what equipment you will need beforehand as the wrong items could stain or scratch the board.
Arabella Horspool is a Commercial Content Writer for Mother&Baby and Yours at Bauer Media. She's a bookworm who enjoys cooking and spending time with her many pets.