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21 Awesome Back To School Gifts For Kids

The end of the summer is always bittersweet, especially with back to school just around the corner. Whether your child is going into Kindergarten or the last day of high school, these back to school gifts for kids are sure to make the moment special. 

After all, you only get 13-15 first days of school in your life (unless you are a teacher…), so why not make it special?

Lots of us love taking special photos of our kids on the first day of school.  (Make sure to get my Free Printable First Day Of School Signs For All Grades (Updated For 2023)

The first day of school gifts below is another special back-to-school tradition to start this year.

You will find ideas for all ages and budgets plus some great gift ideas for teachers to give to welcome students back to the classroom. 

Back to school gift ideas

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The Best Back To School Gifts For Kids

Short on time? 

This back to school gift for kids is the most popular.

It’s the perfect back to school gift for all grades and especially nice for kids that are a bit anxious about leaving you and heading back to school. 

It has a ton of 5-Star reviews.

Looking for Back to School printable signs?

Check out these options:

First Day Of School Chalkboard Printables

Free Printable First Day Of School Signs For All Grades 

First Day Of Kindergarten Sign (Free Download)

First Day Of School Gifts 

Back to school gifts for kids

I’ve separated these back to school gifts into a few sections so you can find the gifts that are best suited to your child’s age.

Obviously preschoolers like different stuff from high schoolers and so on. 

I’ve also tried to find budget-friendly ideas and even link to a few DIY options for the crafty parents out there. 

What Is A Good Back To School Gift?

A good first day of school gift can be something sentimental or it can be something useful. Or it can be both. 

Sentimental ideas include:

  • Jewelry
  • Trinkets
  • Cards
  • Books

Useful back to school gifts might include:

  • Pencils
  • Pencil Case
  • Backpacks
  • Notebooks

You also print off a cute back to school quote and have it framed if you need a back to school gift on a budget. 

Don’t forget that back to school gifts can also be useful items that are just that extra bit special. 

For example, this year I have got my daughters these gorgeous Celestial Silk scrunchies to wear on the first day of school. 

They are made with pure mulberry silk and the ones I chose have gems that I know they will love! 

Best First Day Of School Gift 

The best first day of school gift in 2023 is a fun book that you can read together the night before school starts. 

The bestselling first day of school book in 2023 is “The Day You Begin” By Jacqueline Woodson

The day you being - back to school gifts for kids
Why I love this book:

  • This book is great for kindergarten to third grade. 
  •  It acknowledges challenges that children might face at school and suggests a coping strategy.
  • It’s a great book for teachers to read to their classes, to start a conversation on acceptance.
  • It is perfect for all kids who feel different for all different reasons (color of their skin, the food they bring to lunch etc) 
  • It is a New York Times Bestseller

 

Back To School Gifts For Kids of Any Grade

A lot of the first day of school gift ideas above are perfect for any grade but here are a few extras that you might like:

First Day Jitters

This book is perfect for anyone who has ever experienced that feeling of anxiety at the start of something new. 
Back to school gifts for kids

 

Backpack Name Tag

A personalized name tag is the perfect back to school gift as it is budget friendly and you can even make them yourself with a few craft supplies. 

I like these ones from Etsy. 

backpack tags for kids - first day of school gifts

 

 

First Day Of School Gifts For Students 

Are you a teacher looking for some fun back to school gifts for students in your class? Here are some fun ideas that won’t break your budget:

Cute Bookmarks

Welcome Back to School Rubber Bracelets

Pencils – Welcome Back To School

DIY First Day of School Gifts For Students

Cute Glow Sticks with a Printed Sign

First day of school gift ideas

Image: Pinterest

 

Pencils with a note

Combine these cute pencils with our free printable back to school interview – its a fun first day of school activity! 

Back to school gifts for students

Image: Pinterest

Cute Mazes

I found these on Teachers Pay Teachers

 

Best Books For Teachers On The First Day Of School

The two books below are by the same author and are both highly rated on Amazon as back to school gifts for teachers. 

They are perfect for story time on the first day or school for any grade. 

Our Class is a Family
Back to school gifts for kids

A Letter From Your Teacher: On the First Day of School

Back to school gifts for kids

First Day Of School Gifts For Kindergarten 

If you have a little one who is starting Kindergarten this year, there are tons of cute options for first day of school gifts.

Where I live children actually do two years of Kindergarten so we really do have a “back to school” even though they are in Kindergarten, although for a kids, this might be their first day ever of school. 

Make sure to download my First Day Of Kindergarten Signs (Free Download) so you can take some cute picture on the porch. 

Here are some of my favorites back to school gifts for kids going into Kindergarten. 

On The First Day of Kindergarten Book

Back to school books for kids
 

This is a really cute book to read the night before school starts. 

A Brave Button

These personalized pocket buttons are designed to help kids deal with the worry and anxiety of going back to school.

Brave Button for first day of school

 

Hello Kindergarten T-Shirt

These t-shirts are so cute for the first day of Kindergarten!

First day of kindergarten t-shirt

 

First Day Of Kindergarten Bracelets

I love these bracelets from Etsy that is perfect for children dealing with separation anxiety. 

first day of school bracelet

 

 

Back To School Gifts for Preschoolers 

Preschool is a big step for little kids, sometimes it is the first time away from you or out of a daycare situation. Here are the best gift ideas for the first day of preschool:

Pete and Kitty’s First Day Of Preschool

Who doesn’t love Pete The Cat? This book is a fun take on the first day of school for preschoolers. 
Back to school gifts for kids

 

The Kissing Hand 

No post about back to school traditions would be complete without a mention of The Kissing Hand.

It is one of the most popular books in Kindergarten and Preschool classes on the first day of school. 

The story follows Chester Raccoon who is nervous about starting school. 

To help ease Chester’s fears, Mrs. Raccoon shares a family secret called the Kissing Hand to give him the reassurance of her love any time his world feels a little scary. 

The Kissing Hand - first day of school gift for kids 

First Day Of Preschool Balloon

These balloons (available for all grades) make great back to school gifts for kids.

They also double as a great photo prop for the first day of preschool. 

Mommy’s Special Hearts

One tradition I have always done on the first day of school with my daughters is to give them a “Mommy’s special pom pom” to put in their pockets and hold if they are missing me.

My older daughter suffers from anxiety and she has definitely found it really useful.

This is one of the easiest back to school gifts for kids that literally anyone can do. 

You can buy pompoms at the dollar store or you can get something else like these cute felt hearts from Etsy. 

I recommend something like pompoms or the hearts as you want to have a number of the item for the inevitable moment that they get lost. 

first day of preschool traditions

 

Back To School Gifts For High Schoolers

An Academic Year Agenda

A nice agenda is a great gift for a high schooler in any grade. I like these bestselling ones from Amazon. 

Back to school gifts for high schoolers

 

Back to School Gift Necklace

This necklace comes with a really sweet note that is perfect for high schoolers on the first day of school. 

first day of school gift for high schoolers

On Your First Day of High School Bracelet

I love this bracelet that is especially for the First Day of High School. 

first day of school gift for high schoolers

The Best Back To School Gifts For Teachers

Want to give the teacher in your life a cute back to school gift? Here are some of the best ideas from around the web:

More Back To School Ideas

Free Printable First Day Of School Signs For All Grades

First Day Of Kindergarten Sign (Free Download)

Back to school gifts for kids

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