First Day of School Gifts

Small things for the morning of. The first day doesn't call for a big present โ€” it calls for something to hold, something in the lunchbox, and something to remember it by.

๐ŸŒ… To Hand Over at the Door

Something small enough to fit in a fist, and specific enough to feel like it was chosen for them.

๐Ÿชจ Under $15 Win
Smooth Worry Stone (Pocket Size)
Various
$6-12
Tell them you're holding one too. Slightly corny, works every time, costs less than a coffee.
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๐Ÿ”‘ The Find
Matching Parent & Child Keychain Set
Various
$10-18
One on their backpack, one on your keys. A visible reminder that the day ends with you.
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โœ๏ธ The Find
Personalised Pencil Case with Name
Various
$12-20
Opened at the desk on day one, in front of everyone. Small, but it lands.
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๐Ÿฅช For the Lunchbox

The middle of the day is when it gets long. A note or a surprise in the lunchbox is the cheapest morale boost available.

๐Ÿ’Œ Under $15 Win
Lunchbox Notes for Kids (Set of 60)
Various
$8-15
Sixty mornings of not having to think of something to write. Non-readers get the picture ones.
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๐Ÿฑ The Real Deal
Kids Prints 5-Compartment Lunch Box
Bentgo
$28-34
A new lunchbox is a genuine first-day event when you're six. The compartments also end the sandwich-squashing problem.
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๐ŸงŠ Sneaky Smart
Kids Prints Insulated Lunch Bag
Bentgo
$22-28
Holds the lunch box, a water bottle and a snack, with a strap they can actually carry. Wipes clean, which it will need.
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๐Ÿ“ธ To Remember It By

You will take the photo on the porch. These are for what happens to it afterwards.

๐Ÿ“” Heirloom Worthy
The School Memory Book
Paper Peony Press
$20-28
One page per year from preschool to twelfth grade, with a pocket for the artwork. Start it on day one and you'll be glad in a decade.
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๐Ÿชง The Find
Reusable First Day of School Sign
Various
$10-18
Wipe-clean and reusable every year, so you're not printing a new one each August at 7am.
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๐Ÿ““ The Find
Quirky Fill-In Journal for Kids
Stubby Pencil Studio
$12-16
Their own record of the year, in their own handwriting. Far more interesting to read back than yours.
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โ“ Questions Parents Ask

What should I get my child for the first day of school?

Something small and physical they can carry โ€” a keychain, a worry stone, a new pencil case. First-day gifts work best when they're portable and personal rather than large or expensive.

Are first day of school gifts a good idea?

For most kids, yes, provided they stay small. A modest ritual gives a nervous morning some structure. A big present can tip the day into overwhelm.

What do you write in a first day of school lunchbox note?

Short and specific beats sentimental. 'You've got this, see you at 3' works better than a paragraph. For pre-readers, a drawing or sticker does the same job.

Building a first-day tradition?

Answer three questions and our gift finder will narrow it down for you.

Try the Gift Finder โ†’