First Day of School, Kindergarten or Preschool

Award Certificate

Create a certificate for your child on the first day of school to remember the occasion. Add a photo from the special day. You can either create the printable online by uploading a digital photo or print the award and paste a standard-sized photo.

First Day of School

Tip for first-grade teachers

If you want to give your students a reminder of this special day you can bring a camera to class and take a photo of each child or a class photo. Print a copy for each child, paste the photo, and give them the gift. They will definitely appreciate the effort.

Is your child starting school?

The first day of school is so exciting! My son is starting school next week, and he has been walking around the house with his school bag all week! When my oldest child started school, we were excited as well, but I don’t remember the day as clearly as I thought I would. If I hadn’t prepared a certificate for the first day of school, I might not remember that day at all, what he wore, the expression on his face, and his excitement. OK, I admit that the reason that I remember every detail is from looking at the photo and not from the certificate BUT if I hadn’t prepared a certificate I wouldn’t have had the photo printed! I take thousands of photos but usually don’t bother to get them printed. Making a certificate for your child to record the first take of school will ensure that both you and your child remember this special day!

First Day of Kindergarten

Tip for Kindergarten Teachers

Bring a camera to school on the first day and either take a photo of each child or a group photo with all the kids. Print a certificate for each kid (either this one or any other appropriate one) and add a photo to each one. It will make an awesome gift for each child to remember this special day and important milestone in their lives.

First Day of Preschool

Tip for Preschool Teachers

Why not take a digital camera to preschool on the first day and take a photo of each child or a class photo with all the kids. Get one copy printed for each child and paste a photo on each certificate. This will make a great gift and is an excellent way to start the new year!

Tip for Parents

Don’t forget to record this and all other special moments and milestones. Print a certificate for each one and have them bound to make a baby book when complete.

There are many more milestone certificates on this site for all the major milestones your child reaches!

Things to do to remember the first day of school

There are many ways to commemorate the first day of school, whether it’s the first day of kindergarten or school. Some ideas include:

• Take a photo: Take a photo of your child on their first day of school, and continue to take a photo each year to see how they’ve grown and changed. Take the photo in the same place every year.
• Create a certificate each year: make a certificate such as the one above each year. Since there is space for a photo there you will see how much they grow each year. You can also add details such as their height or weight each year to see how they have grown.
• Write a letter: Write a letter to your child on their first day of school, expressing your hopes and dreams for them and how proud you are of them. Describe their achievements and the most memorable moments from the previous year. Make a booklet with all the letters and give it to them on their 18th or 21st birthday.
• Keep a journal: Start a journal on the first day of school and record special memories, milestones, and accomplishments throughout the school year. Give them the journal when they are older or make a copy for them.
• Create a scrapbook: Create a scrapbook filled with photos, artwork, and special mementos from the first day of school and throughout the school year. Add to it each year so that you have a section for each year.
• Make a time capsule: Create a time capsule filled with items that represent the first day of school, such as a school schedule, a class list, or a school photo, and open it on a significant anniversary such as graduation. I use a file organizer box with hanging files in each. I use a hanging file for each year and put all papers from that year in that file. There is space at the bottom of the box for bigger items that can’t fit in the files.
• Make a special breakfast: make a special breakfast for your child on their first day of school. Keep making this same breakfast each year to start a fun tradition. Try to find something that you don’t make during the year, and make it only for this yearly breakfast. Take a photo each year.
• Make a special dinner: Make a special dinner for your child on their first day of school. If you don’t usually have family meals then this is a day to make a point of it. Sit down to eat as a family and let your child share details from the first day. Ask questions and show an interest in their day.
• Keep a first-day-of-school tradition: Start a tradition on the first day of school, such as reading a book or going out for ice cream, and continue it every year.

These are just a few ideas to keep the first day of school special and make lasting memories.