I have been waiting to share this first day of preschool keepsake with y’all since last year. I made this FREE printable for my preschool class the night before school. We start school in mid-September, so it was too late to share for many of you. What is so wonderful is that even if this first day of school keepsake doesn’t work for you, you can adjust it. The first day of preschool is a special day, especially for our littlest learners who haven’t been before. That’s why this is one of the must-do first days of preschool activities for every preschool classroom!
Ready to print this first day of preschool printable?
Okay, but first, I want to tell you why I think this is the perfect simple keepsake for the first day of preschool. On the first day, your students will be making huge adjustments. They may have visited your class already, but the first day might be the first time they have had to separate from their primary caregiver. That alone is HUGE. After that, though, there is a classroom full of toys and new faces, and it’s all overwhelming.
This simple little activity using just crayons is familiar. Most children will have used crayons before, and they can draw whatever they want. If a child doesn’t do it, don’t push. Your relationship is new, and going slowly is key. Make sure to print off a few extras because the one “trick” I do use to encourage the children is to do the activity myself. Since I use this as a free-choice activity, I may end up doing a few of these for myself.
Don’t forget to add the child’s name and age before popping it into their cubby to take home. Having something to take home creates a physical connection to school for kids. Hopefully, it will be displayed where the family can talk about it as everyone adjusts to the new school year.
Don’t forget to take the first day of preschool keepsake photos and send a quick email to your student’s parents thanking them for sharing their kids with you, telling them how excited you are to spend the school year with their children and the best way to contact you during and after the school day. So much of teaching preschool is about the family connection; starting on a good foot is much better than trying to patch up miscommunication later.
Do you need a first-day-of-school printable for PreK? Maybe a last-day-of-school printable to bookend this first-day-of-school preschool activity? So many of you asked for one, so I’ve included it in the FREE FIRST-DAY-OF-SCHOOL PRINTABLE PACK!
Caroline says
Love first day of school drawing and poem hope to recreate it myself.
Nissi says
Awesome love the first day at school idea. Definitely creating one
Maria says
Loved the first day at school idea. hope to use it this year!
Meghan says
We did this today on our first day! The kids enjoyed drawing as we asked them get to know you questions. Thanks for sharing!
Allison McDonald says
Oh I am so happy you used this and it worked well!