Free Printable First Day of School Handprint Template

This free printable first day of school handprint template is a fun and easy way to create a special back-to-school keepsake.

With three unique designs, including a first day of preschool handprint template, kids can celebrate the start of a new school year while creating personalized artwork.

Perfect for preschool, kindergarten, and early elementary students, these first day of school handprint crafts are simple to set up and make sweet memories you’ll enjoy looking back on for years to come.

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Handprint Art for the First Day of School

Making a first day of school handprint is a simple way to start the year with something creative and meaningful. These easy handprint crafts turn painted hands into keepsakes you’ll love looking back on for years to come.

Print the three first day of school handprint art templates below on standard letter-size paper. Add paint, press your child’s hand onto the page, and let it dry to create a personalized back to school memory.

First Day of Preschool

This first day of preschool handprint template features a child waiting for a colorful handprint outfit.

Let your child choose their favorite paint color, then carefully press their painted hand below the face. Once dry, you’ll have a sweet keepsake to remember the start of preschool.

My First Day

This apple-themed handprint craft is perfect for celebrating a new school year.

Press a painted handprint beneath the apple stem and leaf, then let it dry. You can even add googly eyes or frame the finished artwork for display.

Small Hands, Big Fun

This playful design features the phrase “Small hands, big fun, painting on day one!”

Simply add a painted handprint above the brush handle, then decorate the page with extra paint splatters or colorful details to make it unique.

More First Day of School Activities

Looking for more simple ways to start the school year off right? These printable activities help ease kids back into learning with fun, low-pressure ideas:

• Try this first day of school scavenger hunt to get everyone moving and laughing.
• Let younger kids feel special with a first day of kindergarten crown they can color and wear.
• Snap a photo with our superhero-themed first day of homeschool sign, perfect for marking the moment.
• Keep the day light and engaging with a get to know me worksheet that helps kids open up.

Favorite Books for The First Day of School

If your child loves stories, these first day of school books are a great way to wind down after crafts or kick off your first morning together.

Here are a few favorites that make the start of school feel a little less scary, and a lot more fun:

• First Day Jitters – This one had us both smiling. The twist at the end caught us off guard the first time we read it, and it’s become a favorite to reread every year.
• School’s First Day of School – Such a clever story told from the school’s point of view. It helped take some pressure off that first day when Freddie was younger.
• The Pigeon HAS to Go to School! – If your kids love Mo Willems, this one’s perfect. It’s silly and relatable, and it helped lighten the mood when we needed a laugh before heading out.

Get Your Free Handprint Template First Day of School Here!

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Last Updated on 23 June 2026 by Clare Brown