Tips to Ready Your childcare program for back to school

Fall is a busy time, and it will be especially challenging this year as you navigate new health and safety regulations on top of the regular routine you normally go through getting your childcare program ready for fall. 

With more to do, It's easy to start to feel overwhelmed. To save you a little time, energy, and money I've gathered up some of my my favorite tips, freebies, blog posts, and resources from Pre-K Printable Fun to help you get ready for back to school.

If you are a Pre-K Printables Club Member, please be sure to Log in to the member download area to download these products for free!

1. Be kind to yourself

I've listed this first, because it's the most important. We can't care for others, if we don't care for ourselves. Doing our best is all we can do. This advice rings true-but especially during a pandemic (or crisis). Our best is going to look different depending on the week, or even the day. Allow yourself grace even if you don't have the perfectly planned day, or if your perfectly planned day doesn't go as planned.

Make caring for your mental and physical health a priority. Schedule extra self-care time for yourself, and your students this year.

2. Make them feel welcome

Think of a special way to welcome children into your program each day. Having a welcome routine, where you take just few minutes a day to welcome the children into your program, will help them build a stronger relationship with you, and ease their fears around drop off time.

Pre-K Printable Fun Sign In & Sign Out Activities

One fun way to welcome new children into your program (and practice name recognition) is to encourage them to sign in with a daily sign in and sign out activity. They will love coming in and finding their names each day! Other fun ways include a special daily greeting such as an elbow bump, or a dance off!

3. Create a Visual Schedule

Children crave routines! With a visual schedule children can predict what's going to happen next in their day. A visual schedule is also a great way to help keep you on task, and focused throughout your day.

Pre-K Printable Fun Visual Schedule

4. Assign Jobs

You don't have to do it all! Delegate! Kids love being helpers. Classroom transitions go much more smoothly when everyone helps! Encourage independence, and develop self help skills with a job chart.

5. Observe and Assess

Start the year off using my free assessment pack to assess where the children in your care are developmentally. Knowing which developmental skills the children in your care are working towards will help you more effectively plan lessons and choose the activities that are appropriate for your program. Be sure to track their developmental progress and record it throughout the year.

6. Set up a Wishlist

Throughout the year many parents are looking for ways they can help, or donate your program. Set up a wishlist in your classroom! Use our free Classroom Donation Signs here.

7. use our freebies

Use our free COVID-19 Health & Safety posters to help you set up a screening Station, or try out some of our free activities to compliments your lesson. Lean on us, we're here to help!

8. Spruce up your learning spaces

Needs some ideas on how to spruce up your learning spaces? Check out our learning spaces series, full of inspiring photos shared by our readers. Help parents and staff understand more about the learning that is happening in your learning spaces each day with this FREE set of Preschool Center Signs!

9. Plan your lessons ahead of time

Start your school year organized!  Pre-K Printable Fun has done a lot of the work for you! On our site you can find 50+ themed lesson planning pages, free preschool plans, and a ready made theme pacing calendar.

On these lesson planning pages (found under the Themes tab at the top of our site) you will find: free sample lesson plans, educational activities, process art ideas, related Pre-K Printable Fun products, and suggested items to add to your learning spaces that are perfect for your ​home daycare or Pre-K at home lessons!

10. Improve fine motor skills

Strong fingers and hands are important so that children can work towards developmental goals such as pre-writing and improved self help skills. Plan fine motor activities this fall.

11. Make time for a group meeting

Group meeting time is a great opportunity to build social emotional skills such as working as a team and taking turns. Short on space? Make your meeting time a snap! This portable circle time binder makes it easy to conduct group meeting time wherever you are!

12. Plan more process art

Planning Crafts and facilitated art projects take up a lot of time! Offer more open ended art. Find several process art activities here.

13. Plan your meals in advance

By planning and knowing your meals and snacks ahead of time you are able to save time preparing and shopping.

14. Become a Pre-K Printables Club Member!

I know how much time you spend looking for educational activities to compliment your lesson plans. Let me help you re-gain your free time! Join my Pre-K printables club! Your membership fee gives you unlimited access to my complete library of current and future printable activities and games (including all of the one's I shared in this post).

15. Save money on Printer Ink

The reality is: Childcare Providers use a lot of ink. From printables to forms it's easy to spend hundreds of dollars a year on ink cartridges. Consider placing your printables inside dry erase sleeves (which also makes for easy cleaning) or read this post to see how I was able to take advantage of the HP Instant Ink program to save $100's of dollars a year!

16. Collaborate

We all need connection now more than ever. Join our FB Community to connect with other educators. Build relationships, and support other educators by sharing your ideas with others, and search our group for inspiration. Need activity ideas or feedback on your learning space? Post in our group-we have a warm and welcoming community ready to support you!

Featured products:

Circle Time Binder

$8.00

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Job Chart

$3.00

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Visual Schedule

$5.00

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Attendance Daily Sign In Activities

$7.00

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