Orange Shirt Day Printables — Every Child Matters (September 30)

Every September 30, people across Canada wear orange to honour the survivors of the residential school system, to remember the children who never came home, and to commit to reconciliation. It’s a serious, important day — and helping children understand it, gently and honestly, matters. These orange shirt day printable resources are designed to support that: a way for kids to reflect, take part respectfully, and carry the message that Every Child Matters. 🧡

This isn’t a celebration or a craft party. It’s a day of remembrance and learning. Below is the real story behind it, simple guidance for talking to children, respectful printables you can use at home or in the classroom, and — most importantly — where to learn from Indigenous voices directly.

The Story Behind the Orange Shirt

Orange Shirt Day comes from the story of Phyllis Webstad, a Northern Secwépemc (Shuswap) woman. When she was six years old, in 1973, she was sent to a residential school. Her grandmother had bought her a brand-new orange shirt for her first day — something she was proud of and excited to wear. When she arrived at the school, the shirt was taken away from her and never returned.

That orange shirt became a symbol of everything taken from Indigenous children in the residential school system — their clothing, their languages, their cultures, their families, and for far too many, their lives. Phyllis first shared her story publicly in 2013, and Orange Shirt Day grew from it. In 2021, September 30 also became Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a statutory holiday.

Why We Wear Orange: “Every Child Matters”

Wearing an orange shirt on September 30 is a simple, visible way to say that every child matters — and that what happened must be remembered, not repeated. For children, the message can be exactly that clear and gentle: every child deserves to feel safe, loved, and proud of who they are. The day is about listening, remembering, and learning — not about crafts for their own sake.

How to Talk to Kids About It (Gently and Honestly)

Parents and teachers often worry about getting this wrong. A few guiding ideas:

• Keep it age-appropriate. For younger children, focus on fairness and feelings: Phyllis was excited about her special shirt, and it was taken away, and that was wrong. Every child matters.
• Be honest but gentle. Older children can handle more of the history — that many children were taken from their families and harmed, and that we remember them today.
• Centre listening. Read a book by an Indigenous author, watch an approved resource, and let children ask questions. It’s okay to say “that’s a hard question, let’s learn together.”
• Make it about action, not just a shirt. Wearing orange is a start; understanding and respect are the point.

Respectful Printables for Home or the Classroom

Our free pack is intentionally simple and respectful — no imitation of Indigenous art, regalia or sacred symbols:

• “Design Your Own Orange Shirt” — a blank shirt outline children colour and personalise with the words Every Child Matters. It gives them a way to take part and reflect.
• “Every Child Matters” colouring page — a gentle orange-heart-and-shirt design to colour thoughtfully.
• A reflection page — “What I learned today” and “Every child deserves…” prompts for children to write or draw their thoughts.

These are meant to support a conversation and a moment of reflection — not to replace learning the real history from Indigenous sources.

Learn from Indigenous Voices (Please Start Here)

The most important part of this day is listening to the people whose story it is. Before or alongside any printable, please turn to Indigenous-led resources:

• The Orange Shirt Society (orangeshirtday.org) — founded to support Orange Shirt Day and share Phyllis’s story.
• Phyllis Webstad’s books — The Orange Shirt Story and Phyllis’s Orange Shirt (for younger children), told in her own words.
• The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation — education resources about residential schools and reconciliation.

If you’re teaching this, a short read-aloud from one of Phyllis’s books does more than any worksheet.

Download the Free Reflection Printables (PDF)

The “design your own orange shirt,” the “Every Child Matters” colouring page and the reflection page are in one free PDF — no email, no sign-up. Please use them respectfully, alongside learning from the Indigenous-authored resources above.

Quick Questions

When is Orange Shirt Day?

 September 30 every year. Since 2021 it is also Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a statutory holiday.

What is the orange shirt day printable pack for?

 It’s a respectful way for children to take part — a design-your-shirt page, an “Every Child Matters” colouring page and a reflection page — meant to support a conversation, not replace learning the history from Indigenous sources.

How do I explain Orange Shirt Day to young children?

Focus on fairness and feelings: Phyllis had a special orange shirt taken away on her first day at residential school, and that was wrong. Wearing orange says every child matters and deserves to feel safe and loved.

Where should I learn more?

 Start with the Orange Shirt Society (orangeshirtday.org), Phyllis Webstad’s books, and the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation — Indigenous-led resources that tell the story properly.

Is this only for Canada?

 Orange Shirt Day began in Canada and is observed there, but the message of remembrance and respect can be learned anywhere. In Canada, September 30 is a national day of commemoration.