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In a rush? Here’s a quick breakdown:
The beginning of a new school year always requires a lot of prep and planning ahead. This can be a bit overwhelming. That’s why I wanted to put together a list of activities for you to help build your lesson plan for the first week back – to help take some tasks off your plate, and to help you engage the littles ones right off the bat.
These activities focus on social interaction and helping the children feel comfortable in their new classroom environment, with the other children and with their teachers. Feeling safe in a new environment and with new carers is essential for successful early development, but it obviously can’t happen immediately. These first day of preschool activities are a great way to start fostering that trust, comfort and connection.
These preschool activities also require very little set-up and prep, so they are engaging, but simple – again, trying to make the start of preschool a little less stressful.
Oh and one more thing -- we created a free weekly activity planner template for you, to help you keep track of which activities you want to try.
The teacher is the one of the most prominent caregivers in a child’s early years. Helping them feel comfortable with you is important, but it’s also totally normal for it to take time.
Sharing about yourself is a great place to start!
What to prep/What you need
There are a variety of ways to do this:
How to do it
It doesn't have to be too long! Just add a bit about you, where you're from, how long you've been a teacher, and of course add some fun facts about yourself!
Help the children meet their classmates. They will be spending a lot of time together, and sometimes they need a little help to get over the “stranger” hump.
What to prep/What you need
Ok, I will admit this one does take a little bit of prep.
Create a grid with about 2 rows by 3 columns (or as big as you need it for the number of children in your classroom). In each of the boxes, put a photo of one of the children. If you have a small class, you could encourage everyone to meet everyone. If you have a larger class, mix up the images on the sheets.
How to do it
Print out multiple copies to hand out to the kids on the first day. Then, they will try to find the children that match the images on their sheet.
Source: PreKinders
Learn each other's names while also practicing fine motor skills. Plus, I bet you will learn a lot of their favorite colors based on the beads they choose.
What to prep/What you need
How to do it
Put 1 or 2 bins of beads on each table, give each child their name tag and a piece of string. The children should put the string through the two holes that you have punched out for them on their laminated name tag.
They should move that name tag to the middle of the string, and then they can add any beads they would like on both sides of their name tag. Remind them to leave room so you can tie a bow so they can wear their necklace!
Source: Mrs. Jones Creation Station
You’ve got a lot to prep, so why not let the children help you with some of the classroom decoration?
What to prep/What you need
How to do it
Hand out the cloud with the child’s name. Then, have them write 7 fun facts (one for each color: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, pink) about themselves - or have them tell you what to write.
Then you can hang up all the rain clouds and rainbows on the wall.
Source: Valley Learning Centers
Learn more about each child’s preferences and interests! They can also share and compare them with the other children.
What to prep/What you need
How to do it
Hand out the piece of paper to each of the children and ask them to choose their favorite of the two choices. Then have them share with their classmates. Or, maybe you can ask the questions out loud and have them go to different sides of the room depending on what they chose. Then, they will be surrounded by those who chose the same interests as them. Great conversation starters!
Source: Teachers Pay Teachers
Help the children get acclimated to their new classroom with a scavenger hunt! This is great for both independent play and social skills.
What to prep/What you need
How to do it
Source: Teaching Mama
These are always great to look back on. Especially at this age when it feels like they grow up so much in just a few months!
What to prep/What you need
Then you can also encourage the children to write some of their favorite things underneath their portrait - favorite color, favorite toy, favorite song, favorite book, favorite movie. It’s also fun to see how favorites can change over time!
This is something you can do as much as you want - monthly, every couple months or the beginning and end of the school year.
Source: Teachers Pay Teachers
Here are a list of 10 circle time games that are great for building social skills, connections and getting to know each other.
Like pass the ball, pass the move, or telephone!
Guidance from the Danish Health Ministry, translated in full to English.
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The full recommendations from a working group of over 70 nursery chains in the UK.
Please note: here at Famly we love sharing creative activities for you to try with the children at your setting, but you know them best. Take the time to consider adaptions you might need to make so these activities are accessible and developmentally appropriate for the children you work with. Just as you ordinarily would, conduct risk assessments for your children and your setting before undertaking new activities, and ensure you and your staff are following your own health and safety guidelines.
Explore our library of longer-form books, guides and editable templates - all free to download.
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