20+ First Week of Preschool Activities
The first week of school is n excited yet sometimes nerve-wracking experience for parents, teachers, and students alike. To help smooth this transition, we’ve curated a collection of first week of preschool activities and handy printable forms designed to calm first-day jitters and improve classroom management.
These resources will ensure a warm, welcoming start to the school year for everyone involved! And, they are always a part of our preschool lesson planning resources.
The first week of preschool presents a unique set of challenges for teachers, students, and parents.
Separation anxiety is a common issue, as young children often struggle with being apart from their parents for the first time. Establishing new routines can also be daunting for both the children and the educators, as this period is crucial for setting the tone for the rest of the school year.
Additionally, teachers must manage the diverse needs of their students, who come from varying backgrounds and developmental stages, making it essential to create an inclusive and supportive environment from day one.
Having the right resources and activities can significantly ease the transition for everyone. Well-planned first week of preschool activities will engage your students. And that’s what this list is all about! It features 20+ engaging preschool activities for the first week of school! From printable activities for preschoolers to forms and templates for you, the teacher.
With thoughtful preparation and the right resources, the first week of preschool can become a positive and welcoming experience for everyone involved. 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!
How to Welcome Preschoolers on the First Day of School
Starting a new school year with preschoolers and kindergarteners is all about fostering a warm, welcoming environment where everyone feels comfortable—parents included. Begin the day with a kind smile and a gentle, enthusiastic tone. For many preschoolers, this may be their first time away from their parents, so it’s essential that they feel nurtured and secure after saying goodbye.
Start the first day with a fun and light-hearted get-to-know-you circle time. This activity helps children become familiar with their classmates and the adults in the room. Plan engaging first-week activities that allow kids to work and play together in a relaxed setting.
Be sure to include plenty of songs and interactive conversations—make it a dialogue with the children, not just a monologue.
Above all, keep smiling and enjoy yourself! A positive, joyful atmosphere will set the tone for a successful and happy school year. Check out this article by the NAEYC about Easing First Day Jitters: Strategies for a Smooth Home to School Transition.
Create a routine at home that mimics school, talk about what to expect, and offer reassurance. Encourage your child to share feelings about the new experience.
Practice simple routines at home, like morning preparations and packing a backpack, to help your child get accustomed to the preschool schedule.
Teachers can ease separation anxiety by greeting children warmly, maintaining engaging activities, and reassuring them of their parents’ return.
What to Teach the First Week of School
To make the first week of school a success, it’s important to incorporate a blend of activities that help students feel comfortable, establish routines, and set the tone for the year—all while having loads of fun getting to know one another.
Here are some key areas to cover:
- Classroom Rules and Expectations:
- Introduce the rules and expectations clearly. Use engaging activities to help students understand and remember them. Children need to learn how to behave at certain times of the day and how to get along with their peers.
- Getting to Know Each Other:
- Plan name songs and ‘All About Me’ activities that encourage students to share about themselves and learn about their classmates. These activities help build a sense of community and make the learning environment more trusted.
- Routines and Procedures:
- Teach daily routines such as lining up, transitioning between activities, cleaning up centers, and using classroom materials. It’s important for children to understand what to expect in their preschool schedule, including the fun activities they’ll get to do and the structure they’ll follow. This consistency helps students feel secure.
- Basic Academic Skills:
- The first week of school is perfect for introducing preschoolers to basic academic activities. Start with fun, interactive exercises in math, letter recognition, and fine motor to gauge their skill levels and interests.
- Social-Emotional Learning:
- Incorporate activities that promote empathy, cooperation, and emotional awareness. Teaching children how to interact positively with their classmates is essential for a harmonious classroom as well as building friendships.
By focusing on these areas, you can create a welcoming, structured, and engaging environment that supports students’ transition into the new school year, ensuring they feel excited and ready to learn.
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.
- Hardcover Book
- Arnaldo, Monica (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- Hardcover Book
- Rex, Adam (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- Hardcover Book
- Silvestro, Annie (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- Danneberg, Julie (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages – 02/01/2000 (Publication Date) – Charlesbridge (Publisher)
- Hardcover Book
- Daywalt, Drew (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- Henkes, Kevin (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages – 05/12/2020 (Publication Date) – Greenwillow Books (Publisher)
- Olsen, Shannon (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 31 Pages – 05/19/2021 (Publication Date) – Shannon Olsen (Publisher)
- Olsen, Shannon (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 27 Pages – 05/05/2020 (Publication Date) – Shannon Olsen (Publisher)
- Berube, Kate (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages – 07/12/2022 (Publication Date) – Harry N. Abrams (Publisher)
Activities for the First Week of Preschool
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
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!
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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.