Welcome back to school gifts for students don’t have to be pricey or over-the-top to hype the young kids up for a new school year. A little something fun they could play with or use in class are sure to melt their first-day nerves and help them feel welcomed.
I hope these ideas for first day of school gifts for students give you some inspo to put the gifts together without spending a ton of time in planning and doing errands.
After you’re done with the first day of school gift ideas, be sure to come back and check out my ideas for student birthday presents and end of school gifts too.
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Are back to school gifts for students a good idea?
Honestly, yes! For so many reasons! The first day of school can be nerve-wracking for kids with being in a new classroom, in new clothes, with a new teacher, and new school supplies. The gifts help to build trust between student and teacher and experiencing receiving the gifts together builds comfort and friendship within the class.
These are incredibly important to develop early on in the school year.
While a small gift won’t magically make their nerves disappear or build trust, it does break the ice and make them feel a bit more comfortable than they would have been without it.
First day of school gifts for preschoolers
On the first day, preschoolers come in two settings: sad and upset for school or enthusiastic and chaotic for all the new friends in a new space. Here are a couple gift ideas for them.
1. Jumbo crayons
Jumbo crayons are perfect for tiny hands still figuring out how to hold things and write. These crayons don’t break as easily as the smaller ones and they’re nice to color with. Get a bunch of these in bulk and you’ll have a wonderful gift for the year.
2. Play Doh
Play Doh is another gift that encourages dexterity. It also encourages imagination too and makes a wonderful back to school gift for the kids. You can even schedule some play time as the first activity.
3. Wooden puzzles
Here’s another toy that builds skills too. They’re great for teaching matching and memory. These have dinosaur designs but you can choose animal, space, and princess ones too.
4. Sticker sheets
Students love stickers! And, these puffy ones will be fun first day of school gifts that they can use on their books, bottles, bags, and more.
5. Crayola twistable crayons
We already have crayons on the list, but I had to add these twistable ones too! They keep things mess-free and prevent first day of school breakage.
6. Musical instruments
You can opt for this being an in-class gift that doesn’t go home with them. These musical instruments can sure make some fun sounds during class. Have the kids choose their faves and have a go at making some sweet music together. When they’re done, pack the instruments away for another day of fun.
7. Welcome postcards
A great way to welcome kids to your class on the first day of school is with a sweet postcard. Add their names with some encouraging and kind words. These are gifts they’ll treasure and keep for a very long time.
8. Magnetic puzzles
Wooden puzzles are already on this list, but you can also go for magnetic ones too. They come in a bunch of designs and can be a great afternoon activity.
9. Pull back cars
Another toy for playtime, these pull back cars are fun gifts that can teach tiny hands how to hold, grip and play on different surfaces. These are exciting little tokens to mark their special first day.
10. Books
If you have the budget for it, books are wonderful gifts for students for any occasion, including back to school. “Pete the Kitty’s First Day of Preschool” is a nice one.
Back to school gifts for kindergarteners to second graders
11. Cute erasers
These animal erasers with covers are tiny pieces of back to school excitement. They’re beyond adorable and you can add a tag with each one that says “It’s okay to make mistakes!” That’s sure to take the pressure off and make the students feel more comfortable.
12. Squishies
If cute is the theme, squishy toys are perfect as welcome back to school gifts. They are fun and great little things to fidget with in class.
13. Slap bracelets
Simple and fun, slap bracelets are sure to make your students giggle on their first day. This set comes blank and white so you can write their names on it, doodle and add some adorable stickers to personalize each one.
14. Back to school pencils
For actual back to school gifts to mark the occasion, how about getting these pencils? They are simple, affordable and certainly practical.
15. Cute pencils and erasers
If you aren’t into pencils that are so specific with the welcome back graphic, then get these adorable pencils with sweet pencil erasers. I know both pencils and erasers are on this list already, but look at how cute these are!
16. Welcome back pens
For a super easy, low-effort gift for students on their first day, pick up these on-theme pens with cards.
17. Nice highlighters
Certainly continuing on the cute, kawaii trend, gift your students these precious highlighters. I’m sure they’ll be pretty excited to use them.
18. Squishmallow plushies
You wouldn’t think Squishmallow plushies would be budget-friendly for every student, but these minis definitely are. Have the kids choose their favorites and watch them smile ear-to-ear all day.
19. Back to school mini stuffed animals
Besides Squishmallow plushies, pick up these back-to-school-themed mini stuffed toys for the kids. They are just precious!
20. Back to school coloring books
Get the students these coloring books! Plan an in-class activity around them and watch the kids enjoy their quiet, coloring time.
Back to school gifts for older students (3rd to 5th graders)
For the older kids, Play Doh and crayons aren’t as exciting as they are for younger kids. The older ones prefer a little more cool! Here are a few ideas to get them.
21. Writing tablets
Reusable drawing tablets are great for kids to sketch, doodle and do simple sums on them. You can have the students use them in class before they take them home for more fun.
22. Stationery sets
Gift the kids a bunch of stationery with a back to school theme. This set comes with pens, pen clips, notebooks, notepads, bookmarks and stickers.
23. Adorable multicolored pens
These mini multicolored pens are cute, functional, novel and retro. Have the students choose their favorites and watch them be extra excited to start class.
24. Gel pens
Gel pens are wonderful, practical gifts for the older students. These come in a bunch of beautiful colors so you can choose from pinks, greens, blues and more. Add a tag to the pens welcoming the students back to school.
25. Crayon sticky notes
Colorful sticky notes are exciting to kids any age and these crayon shaped ones are sure to make them happy. Hopefully, they use them as bookmarks and to write down their homework instead of trying to stick them on each other.
26. Random toys
For silly, squishy, sensory toys that will certainly make your students smile, get this set that comes with squishies, pull back cars, keychains, pop bracelets, spinners, fingerboards, spike balls, and more. Have the kids pick the ones they’ll want to take home.
27. Waterproof stickers
Stickers are always fun and exciting for students. While puffy ones are already on the list, these waterproof ones are great for the older kids to use on their books, bottles and devices.
28. Simple notebooks
Practical and simple, these notebooks come in cute colors and can be used by the students to draw, doodle, write poems, do homework, and come up with fun stories.
29. Another practical stationery set
Yep, there’s already a really nice stationery set on this list, but I like this next set too! It comes with 30 sets of pencils, erasers, sharpeners, stamps, stickers and cups with lids too. While this one is back to school themed, there are others that are perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Valentines. Stock up for the year!
30. Pencil pouches
If you have the budget for it, these pencil pouches would make excellent student gifts on their first day. Plus they’ll last for a really long time. There are a bunch of colors to choose from too and the kids can keep their pens, pencils, markers and more in there.
Those are some back to school gifts for students to ease their nerves and make them feel hopeful and excited for the upcoming year.
If you enjoy gifting to students, be sure to check out these end of year student gifts and these student birthday presents. Buy them in bulk and save a ton!
