The start of a new school year is an exciting time, especially for preschool and preschool teachers. host a Preschool open day This is a great way to make a great first impression on parents and students. The event sets the tone for the year, provides important information and helps create a welcoming environment.
Here are some creative and effective back-to-school open house ideas to ensure your event is successful and memorable.
Why hold a preschool open day?
Before we get into that, let’s talk about why you should consider hosting an open house. There are several benefits to hosting a preschool open house:
- Build trust: Parents can meet you, tour the classroom, and learn about the environment their children will be in.
- Set expectations: You can outline the curriculum, daily life, and what you expect from your students.
- got engaged: Encouraging parents to get involved from the beginning can help keep them engaged throughout the year and beyond.
- Reduce anxiety: It helps children become familiar with their new environment and teachers, and relieves first-day jitters.
Meet the Teachers Open House Ideas
Meeting teachers is often the highlight of an open day for parents and students. This is your opportunity to build rapport with parents and students.
Here are some ideas to make your apprenticeship a success:
- Things to note when parents meet with teachers: This is a way for parents to get to know you without repeating the same questions. You can create your own template or personalize one of our custom templates just for you.
- Supply delivery tag: If your program or school uses this method, arrange a place for parents to drop off supplies. Use clearly labeled bins to make the entire process easy and stress-free.
- Student Information Sheet: Make sure you have these forms ready for parents to fill out before the first day of school. This will help you be better prepared and parents feel more confident sending their children to school. Information sheets can include emergency contacts, allergies and any other relevant information.
All the resources mentioned above can be found there Open House Bundle.
Plan a successful back-to-school open house
Planning is key to a successful open house. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you prepare:
Set clear goals: Determine what you want to accomplish with your open house. Is it to notify parents, answer questions, meet with students, or all three?
Prepare: Start planning ahead. Send invitations to parents at least two weeks before the event. Include all necessary details such as date, time and expected content.
Create a schedule: The process of planning activities. Decide on the order of activities, leaving time for introductions, activities and Q&A sessions.
Get ready for class: Make sure your classroom is clean, organized, and welcoming. The less stuff on the shelves the better, as kids may come into contact with things they shouldn’t during activities.
Create a welcoming environment: Place students’ names around the classroom. Elements of this welcome board are contained in Back to school open day package. Placing student business cards in cubicles and throughout the room will create a more welcoming atmosphere for everyone.
Get everything ready: Gather all the information you need ahead of time, such as a welcome letter, information packet, and sign-in sheet. Make sure everything is set and ready for the big event.
Open House Tips and Tricks
Parent Information Pack: Create your own package with important information like daily schedules, supply lists, class times, FAQs, and more and send it home. Or you can use our custom templates just for you Open House Bundle. Write each student’s name on the front of the packet. Don’t forget to include your contact information! At the end of the open house, collect any remaining packages so you can identify who didn’t attend.
Build your presentation: Build your presentation or use our Template made for you. Then, use a smartboard or whiteboard to project slides that explain daily life and answer common questions.
Practice your speech: Rehearse what you are going to say and how you are going to say it. Being well prepared will help you come across as confident and knowledgeable. You can also use the annotation feature in PPT to keep yourself on track.
Q&A session: Parents can ask questions about curriculum, classroom management and any other issues. This session is specifically scheduled to answer questions.
We encourage parents to get involved and seek clarification on any topic they are unsure about. The purpose of this meeting is to address any concerns or questions parents may have. This transparency builds trust and confidence.
helper: Ask a teaching assistant or family member to assist with sign-ins, handing out information packets, and managing traffic flow before the event. You can get an assistant to help with different tasks to make the event run smoothly. Having extra personnel can help things run more efficiently. Consider asking others for support in organizing and managing the event.
How to make your back-to-school open house memorable
Personalized welcome postcard: Send home a personalized welcome postcard before the open house. Write a message on the postcard, such as “I’m glad you’re in my class” or “It’s nice to see you.” Include the date and time of the open house.
Scavenger Hunt: Try the super simple scavenger hunt game included Open House Bundle. This will help you move parents and students in and out of the classroom to reduce crowding.
Photo booth: Use props to create fun photo backgrounds. Not only is this a great icebreaker, but it also provides parents with a memorable souvenir of the open house.
Welcome gift: You might consider having something small and inexpensive for your students at your open house. These gift tags come in 3 different versions Open House Bundleone for popcorn, goldfish and play dough.
Successfully held preschool open day
Welcome guests: As each family arrives, they are greeted with a smile. Make them feel welcome and valued from the moment they step through the door.
got engaged: Smile and interact with parents and students throughout the event. Be approachable, answer questions, and make sure everyone feels engaged.
Parent Volunteer Registration: Create a form for parents to sign up to help with a classroom activity or activity. This encourages parents to get involved and fosters a sense of community
Activities held: Follow your planned schedule and keep an eye on the time to make sure everything runs smoothly.
Follow-up actions: After the activity, contact parents promptly. Send a thank you note, answer any remaining questions, and provide additional information as needed. This demonstrates your commitment to communications and partnerships for the coming school year.
Follow the steps and ideas below to ensure your preschool open day is a great experience for everyone. It’s important to make a good first impression, share important information, and create a sense of community from the beginning.
