It's the last few weeks of the summer break, the new backpack is sitting by the door, and your little one is somewhere between excited and nervous. Our Back to School coloring pages are made for exactly that stretch of the year. Every design is a free printable you can download as a PDF and have on the table in under a minute.
This collection is built specifically for under-fives. That means chunky outlines, big open shapes and very little clutter, so small hands with thick crayons can fill each page in without getting frustrated. Across our 268 designs you'll find school supplies, first day of school scenes, classroom corners, school buses and a set of kawaii supplies with friendly faces.
They work well for parents easing a toddler into the idea of school, and for preschool teachers who need simple printables for the first week. If your child enjoys these, take a look at our Kawaii Cats coloring pages and our Jobs and Careers coloring pages too.
These pages are drawn with big shapes and thick outlines for younger children, so there's no need to stay neat. If your child wants a few ideas before they start, these tips work well across the whole collection.
School buses are the easiest place to start. Bright yellow with a black stripe along the side looks just like the real thing, and a red stop sign on the arm gives your child one small detail to aim for once the big areas are done. If they'd rather make a green or purple bus, that's fine too - these are their pages.
On the supply pages, try giving every pencil and crayon a different color so the finished pot looks like a real jumbled-up set. Red, blue, green and orange next to each other make the page feel busy in a good way, and it's a simple way to practice swapping crayons without losing track.
Several of the pages have blank name tags, labels and desk cards. Those are left empty on purpose, so let your child fill them with dots, stripes or zigzags in pink and yellow rather than trying to write. Older siblings can add the letters afterward if you want to use them for real.
For the classroom and first day scenes, pick one color for the walls and floor and keep it light, so the crayons, chairs and backpacks stand out on top. Chunky crayons or thick markers cover the large areas quickly, which keeps small hands from getting tired before the page is finished.
You can always head back to our coloring pages index to browse more categories whenever you're ready. We add new pages regularly, so it's worth checking back through the school term for more simple printables aimed at younger children.
Coloring Pages FAQ
Can I redistribute or resell these coloring pages?
No - please don’t resell or redistribute the files or printed copies.
Is it free to download and print these coloring pages?
Yes - you can download and print Crafty Josh pages for free for personal use.
May I print these pages for students or a homeschool group?
Yes - printing for non-commercial educational use is allowed for classrooms, homeschool, and groups.
Do you post new coloring pages and categories over time?
Yes - Crafty Josh is updated with new pages and categories on a regular basis.
What’s the best paper to use?
For crayons and colored pencils, regular printer paper is fine. For markers or paint, thicker paper or cardstock helps reduce bleed-through.
