The first day of preschool is a big deal! And finding first day of preschool activities can be difficult. With careful planning, engaging activities and a nurturing environment, this day can lay the foundation for a lifelong love of learning and exploration.
Let’s take a look at some activities and crafts to ensure a smooth and engaging introduction to the world of early education!
The first day of preschool is an exciting and momentous occasion for children families and teachers alike. As a preschool teacher, you play a pivotal role in shaping the experience on this special day. A thoughtful approach can turn the first day into a fun, engaging, and confidence-boosting introduction to preschool life. This article explores ideas and strategies to help teachers maximize the first preschool day.
Setting the Stage
Preparation is key to a smooth first day. Some advance steps teachers can take include:
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Tour the classroom – Walk through the space to ensure everything is clean organized and inviting. Add decorative touches to brighten the room.
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Send introductory letters – Welcome families and share info about yourself, classroom procedures, and suggested first-day attire/items.
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Plan engaging activities – Have games, crafts, and lessons ready to connect with students from the start.
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Prepare labels and nametags – Make it easy for children to identify their cubby/hook and facilitate learning names.
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Stock up on supplies – Make sure there are enough tools and materials for hands-on activities.
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Review emergency plans – Confirm you have up-to-date emergency contacts, allergy info, permissions, etc.
Welcoming Students and Families
The first arrivals set the tone. Here are tips for a warm welcome:
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Greet students individually – Get down to eye level and use a calm, friendly tone.
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Introduce yourself – Share a bit about yourself so children can get to know you.
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Orient children – Show them where to store belongings, find nametags, wash hands, etc.
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Ease separation anxiety – Acknowledge feelings, allow special items from home, use comfort techniques.
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Connect with parents – Provide reassurance, share excitement, and exchange contact information.
Facilitating Engaging First Day Activities
Fun activities make for an enjoyable first day where children can get acclimated. Consider incorporating:
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Circle time – Sing familiar songs, read a story, discuss likes/dislikes, share classroom rules.
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Arts and crafts – Have students make nametags, self-portraits, classroom decorations.
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Games and icebreakers – Play name games and interactive activities to build connections.
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Tour – Show children key areas like cubbies, library, play areas, and bathroom.
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Free play – Allow time for children to explore classroom toys and materials.
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Music and movement – Incorporate rhythmic songs, fingerplays, and dance to teach and entertain.
Additional Tips and Tricks
- Take lots of pictures to share with families later.
- Maintain a predictable schedule with flexibility.
- Keep tone positive, even when redirecting behavior.
- Check in with children periodically to gauge comfort levels.
- Avoid lengthy large group times.
- Provide regular snacks/water breaks.
- Stick to familiar routines like story and nap time.
- Allow children comfort objects like stuffed animals.
- Send home sweet keepsakes like a special first day sticker or art project.
Setting Students Up for Success
The first day experience lays the foundation for the year ahead. With thoughtful planning, you can help students feel welcome, engaged, and excited to learn. Using the strategies above will support children in successfully:
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Getting comfortable in the new environment
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Learning classroom rules and procedures
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Building connections with you and peers
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Having fun through play, creativity, music, and hands-on activities
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Developing confidence and independence
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Experiencing positive associations with preschool
The beginning sets the tone. By focusing your energy on making children feel secure, known, and primed for learning on day one, you pave the way for meaningful preschool experiences and future academic achievement.
Typical First Day Jitters
It’s completely normal for preschoolers – and their parents! – to feel anxious on the first day. Some common concerns include:
- Worry about separating from parents
- Nerves about meeting the teacher
- Reluctance about participating
- Fear of other children
- Uncertainty about following instructions
- Distress over sharing toys and materials
- Apprehension about new situations
Have compassion for these feelings. Patience and reassurance will help minimize first day jitters.
Encouraging First Day Attendance
Despite anxiety, it’s important children attend the first day. Here’s how to encourage participation:
- Remind parents of the short day/orientation option
- Suggest parents stay for a while to ease transition
- Share fun planned activities to generate excitement
- Note the bonding opportunity with teachers and peers
- Stress the value of establishing routines right away
- Reassure them you’ll provide lots of support
Children who miss day one already start behind. Do what you can to convince hesitant families. The first day truly sets the stage for an amazing preschool experience!
First Day of Preschool Activities for 3-Year-Olds
For 3-year-olds, the first day of school should include activities that introduce them to basic concepts.
Activities like color sorting, simple shape recognition and sensory play with sand, water or kinetic sand can be both educational and entertaining for this age group.
And check out this fall-themed pumpkin-bowling lesson for preschoolers that focuses on physical development!
Crafts for the First Day of Preschool
Craft activities not only encourage creativity but also help develop fine motor skills in young children.
On the first day of school, consider simple crafts like creating handprint animals, making friendship bracelets or painting with fingers to stimulate the little ones’ imagination and artistic expression.
One idea for a first day of school craft is making “my first day” photo frames using colorful cardstock and simple decorations. This not only allows the children to express their creativity but also serves as a keepsake for both the children and their families to cherish in the years to come.
Crayola shared a fun photo-prop frame craft to mark the first day of preschool. Here are the supplies you’ll need:
- Wooden frame, letters and numbers
- Glitter glue
- Mini chalkboard
- Markers
- Glue
- Chalk
Use markers to decorate wooden numbers and letters with bright patterns and colors for your photo frame. Then attach the wooden shapes with gluelue to spell out “1st Day of” at the top of the frame. Along the bottom, glue a small chalkboard to the frame.
Add a splash of sparkle and fun by swirling and dotting the frame with glitter glue and write the word preschool on the chalkboard with chalk.
And check out this idea from popular blogger Sarah Chesworth with activities for the first day of preschool … she suggests using a printable journal is just for preschool students to use during their first week of school!
Sarah says it’s “super simple and supports students drawing pictures to share their thoughts and ideas rather than words,” and suggests this preschool printable journal that features over 10 different pages to print and choose from.
She recommends choosing one page a day for students to complete during writing time and to remember that drawing is writing too!
Incorporating games into the first day of preschool can facilitate learning in a fun and interactive way. Games like Simon Says, Red Light, Green Light and musical chairs not only promote physical activity but also encourage listening skills and the ability to follow simple instructions.
How to introduce yourself in class for kindergarten teacher/First day interaction with preschoolers
How do I prepare for the first day of preschool?
As a teacher, you want your students to be happy and comfortable while they learn. On the first day of preschool, you may teach students routines that give them an understanding of how a school functions rather than focusing on specific lesson plans. Here are some tips you can use to prepare for the first day of preschool: 1.
What is the first day of preschool?
The first day of preschool is often a momentous day in a child’s life. The first day of any school year is significant, but preschoolers have never experienced school before, so the experience is totally new for them.
What does a preschool teacher do on the first day?
On the first day, preschool teachers represent the entire education system to their young students. Different children have unique experiences, and preschool is often a new experience for every child. By modeling the behavior and implementing the routines you want on the first day, you can set yourself and your students up for a great year.
Why should you plan the first day of preschool?
The first day of preschool is an exciting opportunity to welcome children to your center and start your upcoming year together on a positive note. When you’re planning the first day of preschool activities and crafts, you want them to be fun and engaging tasks that inspire children and support them to get to know their teachers and peers.
