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Low-Prep First Week of School Activities for Kids
That first week back can feel like equal parts fresh pencils, nervous smiles, and trying to remember where everyone left their shoes.
These first week of school activities for kids help make the transition a little easier with playful games, simple crafts, classroom icebreakers, and activities that encourage kids to talk, create, and get comfortable with their new surroundings.
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Whether you’re a teacher filling those first few days without diving straight into worksheets or a parent hoping to make the return to school feel special, there’s something here to calm the jitters and start the year on a happy note.
You’ll find activities for learning names, exploring emotions, practicing classroom routines, and even preserving a few first-week memories.
And once everyone settles in, you’ll find plenty more school celebration ideas to make milestones throughout the entire school year a little more fun.
📚 More School Activity Ideas
School days are better with a little extra fun! From memorable first-day traditions to easy printables and sweet surprises, these ideas help kick off the school year with smiles.
📸 First Day Sign Ideas – Creative photo ideas to make those first-day snapshots extra memorable.
🎒 Back-to-School Printables – Fun and practical printables to keep kids excited and organized.
🖍️ Free First Day Signs – Download adorable printable signs for every grade level.
🎉 First Day School Activities – Easy activities and free printables to make day one extra special.
🍎 Back-to-School Treat Ideas – Simple treats that make students feel welcomed and celebrated.
Easy First Week of School Activities for Kids
Ice Breaker Games for Kids to Ease First-Day Nerves
Starting school can bring on plenty of nervous butterflies.
These simple icebreaker games include silly, active, and calming options that help kids get comfortable, meet their classmates, and talk about those very normal first-day jitters.
Free Printable Back to School Don’t Eat Pete Game
Don’t Eat Pete is a fun game that is super simple to set up and play, plus kids get candy.
Use the printable gameboard, which is customized with a back to school theme.
Safe Greetings Cube
Not every child is comfortable with hugs or high-fives.
This printable greetings cube gives kids several fun ways to say hello, allowing them to connect with classmates while respecting everyone’s personal space.
DIY Back to School Frame
That first-day photo deserves better than getting lost somewhere in your camera roll.
This colorful DIY back-to-school frame gives kids a fun way to display one of those sweet beginning-of-the-year pictures.
Back-to-School Emotions Bin
The return to school can bring up everything from excitement to some serious stomach butterflies.
This hands-on emotions sensory bin helps young children recognize, explore, and talk about their feelings through play.
Parts Of An Apple Playdough Tray
Since school and apples go together so well, this sensory tray is the perfect combination for back to school.
It combines sensory play with an apple theme, letting kids “build” their own apples using playdough.
Back to School Word Search
Get kids into the back to school spirit while having fun with this printable word search.
All of the clues are related to school, so it will gradually introduce the concept to kids while they solve.
Paper Plate School Bus Shapes Craft
Turn circles, squares, and rectangles into a cheerful yellow school bus with this easy paper plate craft.
It’s a playful way for younger kids to practice basic shape recognition while getting excited about school.
Back to School Name Craft
Here’s a cute printable apple for kids to color, but there’s an extra benefit.
They can add letters to spell their name, lending name recognition to the mix.
Classmate Bingo Ice Breaker Game
Skip the awkward “stand up and tell us about yourself” routine.
This printable classmate bingo game gets kids moving around the room as they find classmates who have a pet, enjoy certain activities, or match the other clues on their cards.
Printable All About Me T-Shirt Templates
Introducing themselves on the first day of school can be hard for kids.
This printable all about me t-shirt gives them plenty of prompts to fill in, so they will have no trouble with introductions.
How to Make Back to School Books
Let kids become the author—and the star—of their own back-to-school book.
This easy class project gives students a creative way to share their experiences while making a keepsake they’ll enjoy reading again later.
Gumball Rulers Back to School Craft
Looking for a sweet little surprise to brighten the first day of school?
This adorable ruler-themed treat is filled with colorful gumballs, making it a fun back-to-school gift that will have kids smiling from ear to ear.
Back to School Matching Game
Keep little hands busy during those unsettled first few days with this printable back-to-school matching game.
It’s quick to prepare and gives kids a familiar, low-pressure activity when they need a quiet classroom break.
Classroom Scavenger Hunt
A new classroom is a lot less intimidating once kids know where everything is.
This printable classroom scavenger hunt turns finding important supplies and spaces into a game while helping students become more independent.
Popsicle Stick Crayon Photo Craft
Combine craft sticks with a printable for an easy, fun back to school photo frame.
These crayon photo frames are the perfect way to display a picture from the first week of school.
Back to School Party Place Settings
Celebrate surviving the first week with a simple back-to-school dinner or family party.
These school-themed place settings are super cute and easy to set up.
Back to School Lego Challenge
Little builders can count down the days til the first week of school with these fun LEGO challenges.
The printable sheet offers a different school-related project every day for a month.
DIY Back-to-School Time Capsule
What a fun way to compare the first week of school with the last!
Kids help make this back to school time capsule, and then parents can open it at the last week of school to compare how things have changed.
Back To School Apple Craft
Here’s a quick, cute printable craft to get kids excited for school.
The adorable apple sits atop a stack of books, and everything they need is in the printable template.
First Week of School Activities for Kids FAQs
What are some fun first week of school activities for kids?
Fun first week of school activities include classroom scavenger hunts, name crafts, All About Me pages, matching games, simple STEM challenges, sensory activities, and get-to-know-you bingo. Choose activities that help children become familiar with their classmates and classroom without putting too much pressure on them.
How can teachers make the first week of school fun?
Teachers can make the first week fun by using low-pressure activities that include movement, creativity, teamwork, and conversation. Printable games, scavenger hunts, building challenges, class books, and simple crafts can help students enjoy themselves while learning classroom expectations.
How can you help kids with first-week-of-school anxiety?
Keep routines predictable, explain what children can expect, and give them simple ways to express how they feel. Emotion activities, classroom tours, calming games, and gentle introductions can help children feel more secure. Avoid forcing shy children to speak in front of the whole class before they are ready.
How do you teach classroom routines during the first week of school?
Introduce one routine at a time, demonstrate it, and let students practice it several times. Games, role-playing, visual reminders, and classroom scavenger hunts can make procedures such as lining up, finding supplies, transitioning between activities, and cleaning up easier to remember.
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