How to Make Name Tags for Preschoolers

Make name tags with children for the first day of preschool.

Young children often do not learn to write the alphabet until they attend preschool or kindergarten. To help them identify the letters in their own names, make name tags that resemble how children will learn to read and write. Use paper that will become familiar to them as they begin learning, and decorate each name tag in a creative way unique to each child. Using basic craft supplies and techniques, you can make educational and imaginative name tags in just a few steps.

Things You'll Need

• Kindergarten writing tablet
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Construction or scrapbooking paper
• Stickers (optional)
• Stamps and stamp pad (optional)
• Glue stick
• Waxed paper
• Clear, self-adhesive shelf liner
• Hole punch
• Yarn or ribbon

Instructions

1. Write the child’s name on the lines of a kindergarten writing tablet. The tablet has wide lines to help young children learn to write large capital and lowercase letters and practice the techniques.

2. Cut the paper around the name, leaving a little extra space so the lines will remain visible.

3. Place the cut-out name on a sheet of construction or scrapbooking paper and lightly trace the outline.

4. Use the traced outline as a guide to design a shape for the background of the name tag. Draw a flower, school bus, car or other decorative shape onto the background paper.

5. Decorate the space between the traced outline and the edge of the background shape with stickers, stamps, ribbon or other embellishments, if desired. Consider asking the child to assist with this step. If you use decorative paper, you may need no further embellishments, or just a few star stickers for sparkle.

6. Apply a dab of glue with a glue stick to the back of the cut-out paper with the name. Press the paper onto the center of the decorative, shaped paper to adhere. Cut out the decorative shape.

7. Cut two pieces of self-adhesive shelf liner, slightly larger than the background shape.

8. Lay down a piece of waxed paper to protect your work surface.

9. Peel off the backing from one piece of shelf liner and press onto the front of the name tag, starting on one edge and pressing across slowly to reduce air bubbles.

10. Turn the name tag over and remove the backing from the second piece of shelf liner. Press onto the back of the name tag slowly to reduce air bubbles.

11. Cut around the outline of the shape, leaving a 1/4-inch border of shelf liner.

12. Punch a hole in the top of the shelf liner. Thread and tie a length of yarn or ribbon through to hang the name tag around the child's neck.

Tips & Warnings

• Teachers can use this activity as a first-day-of-class project for kids to learn each others names.

• If you get an air bubble in the shelf liner, pop it with a pin and smooth out the air.

• Add additional information, if desired, to the back of the tag. You may want to include the teacher’s name, classroom number, or parents' names, depending on the preschool.

• Apply a flat-back jewelry pin to the back of the tag using instant glue, as an alternative to hanging on a cord around the neck.

• For safety reasons, check with the school about what information you should put on the name tag. Some schools may want the tag to identify if the child is being picked up by car, or riding a bus.