The first week of school is an exciting and sometimes overwhelming time for parents, teachers, and students. These first week of preschool activities and printable forms are sure to ease first day jitters for everyone and aide in classroom management!
No matter how many years I teach, the excitement of starting a brand new school year never goes away.
When a new school year is upon me, it doesn’t just mean waiting for a bunch of little ones to show up with their eager parents in tow…it means being reminded of those first-day jitters. They’re a thing for both students AND teachers, after all! The nerves of not knowing if they’ll like my class, whether or not I’m fun enough to capture their attention on the first day of school, all while trying to make sure none of them get too upset during transitions.
Ever had a student with separation anxiety? Then you know what I’m talking about!
But even before any students have arrived, I’ve already got one victory under my belt: we’re back in person! There’s no better feeling than walking into your classroom on the first day and seeing all the bright faces looking up at you with smiles from ear to ear.
Ok, my class might not actually look exactly like that on the first day, but by the time we get to end the of the first week of school, that’s exactly what it looks like!
I come prepared with all the right activities, like my complete preschool curriculum, editable name spelling sheets for each students, fine motor task boxes, and my personal favorite: playdough activities!
And it’s helpful to have a bunch of proven, tried-and-true, preschooler-approved, first-week-of-school crafts and learning activities, too!
FAQ about Back to School for Preschoolers
When starting a new school year with preschoolers and kindergarteners, it’s important to help them feel comfortable and at ease in your classroom. This is true for parents, too! Greet everyone with a kind smile and speak gently but with excitement. Don’t forget that for some preschoolers this will likely be their first time ever being without a parent for a period of time. They need to feel nurtured and safe after their parents leave.
Keep the first day light and fun with a get-to-know-you circle time where the kids can get to know the other students and adults in the classroom. Have first-week-of-preschool activities prepared where children get to work and play together in a casual and fun way. Sing lots of songs, and do a lot of talking with (not to) the children.
Just remember to keep smiling and have fun!
It’s normal for 3 and 4 year olds to get tearful at drop-off. To ease this transition, parents should try not to prolong saying goodbye. This is tricky for parents! Remember that leaving a crying child is difficult for parents, and they’ll worry. But just a quick hug and an “I love you, I’ll be back at lunch to pick you up,” is best.
Once mom or dad has left, teachers can help calm the child down with a good distraction. Ask the preschooler to help with a special job, or engage them in a favorite activity. With time the child will be a pro at coming to preschool. You can read more about preschoolers’ emotional development here.
The first week of school should be about teaching kids the rules of the classroom and school, as well as having loads of fun getting to know one another. They need to learn how to behave at certain times of the day and how to get along with the other children. They need to learn what to expect in their preschool schedule as well as all the things they get to do (and not just the things they won’t be allowed to do).
You’ll also want to spent time in the first week establishing a learning routine. Children new to preschool may not be familiar with learning center rotation or other preschool methods. They may not know that their time will be somewhat structured and that some things are off limits during certain parts of the day.
It’s also wise to limit the amount of material they have access to for the first week. This will help the children not get too overwhelmed and give them a better opportunity to learn the procedures of the classroom, as well as how to properly use classroom materials and learning centers.
Picture Books for the First Day of Preschool
One of the most powerful things I do on the first day of preschool is read some picture books to my students. It seems to remind them of being in a safe place, since picture books are usually accompanied with snuggles at bedtime. Now, I can’t snuggle each of my preschoolers while reading to them, but I can carefully hand-select just the right picture books for the first day of school.
First Week of Preschool Activities, Craft Ideas, and Teacher Forms
You’ve been thinking about teaching preschool all summer long…and now that the school year is in full swing, you’re finally ready to get up close and personal with a whole new set of kids! Consider this week an orientation process. Here are some back-to-school ideas for teachers so they can hit the ground running on Monday morning.
First Day of School Activities
The first day of school is an exciting time for preschoolers. It's also a time full of all sorts of emotions! These first day of school activities are great for helping preschoolers adjust and have fun in the classroom.
First Day of Preschool Printable Face Mask Activity
Here's a simple activity for preschoolers to do if you're still required to wear masks in the classroom. It's a great activity for students to get more comfortable wearing masks if they're not used to it.
Back to School Books for Preschoolers
This simple idea is a great way to talk with your students about what to expect in preschool. This is a wonderful way to get kids to open up, ask questions, and share concerns.
Free Safe Greetings Mini Book
This Safe Greetings mini book gives students ideas for saying hello to friends while maintaining social distance. It's a great first day of school activity!
Safe Greetings Cube
This Safe Greeting Cube is a fun way for preschoolers to say hello to their friends in the classroom and for teachers to welcome students when they arrive. Just roll the cube and see what you get!
FREE Back to School Scavenger Hunt Printable
If you need to fill a little time on the first day of school, this easy back to school scavenger hunt would be a fun way for students to check their supplies.
Name Tag Necklace Activity for the First Day of School
This craft is a great way for students to personalize their first day of school name tag. It's also an excellent fine motor activity for preschoolers.
DIY Back-to-School Photo Frame
This adorable bus frame is a fantastic craft for students to make on their first day of school. It's perfect for back-to-school photos.
Kissing Hand Printable Activity
"The Kissing Hand" by Audrey Penn is a classic story to read on the first day of school. This is a wonderful activity that goes along with the story and helps students feel better on such an overwhelming day.
Printable First Day of School Self Portrait Worksheet
With this cool printable students can draw their self portrait. This will be a great activity for kids to look back on when they're older.
Printable First Day Of Preschool Keepsake
This simple keepsake activity commemorates the first day of school. Preschoolers can draw a picture of their favorite part about school on the printable to remember their first day.
Crayon Themed First Day Of School Sign For Classroom Photo Booth
Don't forget to take a picture of your students on the first day of school! This adorable crayon-themed printable sign is perfect for preschoolers.
Getting to Know You Activities
These "Getting to Know You" or "All About Me" activities are a great way for teachers to get to know their students and for students to get to know their classmates. Preschoolers will have fun expressing themselves with these creative activities.
All About Me Self-Portrait Collage
Preschoolers will love this simple collage craft. It's the perfect way for kids to share with teachers and classmates the things that make them unique.
Make a Cute Preschool All About Me Caterpillar (with Free Printable)
This cute caterpillar craft is great for the first week of school. Kids can answer questions about themselves to share with their classmates and teachers.
All About Me Free Printable
Making an All About Me booklet is a great way for teachers to get to know their students. In this free printable book kids can draw pictures and write all about themselves.
Easy All About Me Pop-Up Cards
This easy all about me pop-up card is a great way for teachers to get to know their students at the beginning of the year. I love that it's an open-ended activity where kids' creativity can really shine!
All About Me Poster Freebie
Preschoolers will love creating this All About Me poster to display in the classroom. It's a great way for kids to share their favorite things!
All About Me Preschool Activity
This simple printable All About Me activity is perfect for even the youngest preschoolers. It's great because it's low-prep too!
All About Me DIY Puzzles
Kids can make themselves into a puzzle with this All About Me activity! It's an awesome getting to know you activity for the first week of preschool.
Printable All About Me Poster for a Preschool Theme
Here's another great option for an All About Me printable poster for preschoolers! It's the perfect keepsake for parents to remember the preschool years.
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45 Playdough Recipes$10.00 -
12 Fine Motor Task Boxes$10.00
Back to School Paperwork for Parents
It's important for teachers to have as much information about their students as possible on the first day of school. These forms will help teachers get to know their students and aide in classroom management.
How We Go Home Transportation Forms
These free printable forms will help teachers stay organized at the most stressful time of day: dismissal. Make sure parents fill out the first day of school transportation form so you can easily make sure kids get sent home the right way. There's also a form for transportation changes to provide parents with and a to-do list included in the packet.
Free Back to School Parent Packet
Make sure the parents of your students are in the know with this free back to school parent packet. This editable and printable packet will inform your parents of what they can expect in your classroom and how they can help their child succeed.
Parent Survey & Permission Forms for Teachers
Make sure you have all the information you need from parents about your students with this free parent survey. This free pack also includes permission forms for photographs and movies.
Parent Support for At Home Reading & Back To School Parent Input Form Freebie
It's important for parents to work on reading at home with their children. This printable gives strategies to support parents through the process of learning to read. There is also a form for parents to fill out to help teachers get to know their students' strengths and weaknesses.
Back to School Forms: Paperless & Painless!
I love this neat idea for paperless back to school forms! It uses QR codes to bring parents to digital forms to fill out and submit online. Teachers simply print a small sheet of paper with the QR codes on it for parents. This really cuts down on the paperwork for parents and teachers to keep track of.
The first week back to school doesn’t have to be stressful for anyone. These back-to-school activities and printables will help teachers get organized, finalize their lesson plans, and go into the new year with confidence!
I’m Sarah, an educator turned stay-at-home-mama of five! I’m the owner and creator of Stay At Home Educator, a website about intentional teaching and purposeful learning in the early childhood years. I’ve taught a range of levels, from preschool to college and a little bit of everything in between. Right now my focus is teaching my children and running a preschool from my home. Credentials include: Bachelors in Art, Masters in Curriculum and Instruction.
