First Day of Preschool Activities for 3-Year-Olds

The opening day of preschool is a major milestone to the children and parents. In the case of 3 year olds, it is thrilling to enter a new classroom with new people, new routines, and new experiences, and it can be overwhelming. This is the reason why educators and parents should pay attention to the activities with preschoolers aged 3 that will make the day a good, entertaining, and pleasant experience.

With proper preparations, first day activities preschool could make the children feel safe, confident, and prepared to explore. Starting with the ice-breaker activities to fun preschool games, these activities not only assist in making learning easy but also foster socialization and emotional ease. Here, we will provide the most effective learning activities in pre-school, classroom games in pre-school and toddler activities in pre-school in order to give your child a good start as a student.

The Benefits of Activities on the First Day of Preschool

In the case of toddlers, the initial day at preschool is concerned with adaptation to a new environment. Activities help them:

• Fear separation anxiety: ensure that they are not bored.

• Promote socialization with the teachers and friends.

• Present classroom routines in an enjoyable stress-free manner.

• Develop interest and trust based on play learning.

This is why the 3 year olds need to be given fun, creative and comfortable preschool activities by the teachers.

Activities Best First Day Teachers Can Attempt in Preschool

These are age-related, thrilling and safe suggestions to ensure that the first day is memorable to 3-year-olds.

1. Name Tag Decorating

Assign a plain name tag to each child and allow him or her to use stickers, crayons, or stamps to decorate the name tag. It is useful in learning names of people fast by the teachers and classmates and keeping kids occupied in a creative manner.

2. Circle Time Introductions

The easiest form of ice-breaker is where children sit in a circle, and get to know each other. Songs or rhymes can also be used by teachers to make this first day activity preschool friendly and fun.

3. Storytelling Corner

Children enjoy listening to narrations. A colorful animal picture book or simple morals will get them to relax and improve on listening ability. This is among the most relaxing exercises to the toddlers in preschool.

4. Play Dough Fun

One of the favorites of toddlers is to play with dough. Children are able to roll it, squeeze it and shape it in any way they need, which contributes to a relaxing preschool classroom activity, as well as, building fine motor skills.

5. Parachute Games

When it is not close, a parachute game can be a fantastic icebreaker as a group activity. Preschoolers are empowered to lift, shake, or run under the parachute, and also have fun working as a team laughing.

6. Color Sorting Games

Prepare sorting (color) with bowls and colorful objects (blocks, balls, or pom-poms). This brings in the preschool learning activities in an entertaining practical manner.

7. Musical Freeze Dance

Play music and make children dance around the room. As soon as the music ceases, they stand with the pose of statues. It is among the most popular fun preschool games among toddlers which involves music, movement and laughter..

8. Scavenger Hunt of Classroom Tour

Welcome kids into the classroom by placing some little things or stickers in various places to be discovered by children. This exercise is used to ensure that the children become acquainted with the surrounding and they will be occupied.

9. Building Blocks Corner

Blocks and Lego sets make great preschool activities when it comes to 3 year olds. When children play together, they play in a creative manner, develop hand-eye coordination as well as social play.

10. Sing-Along Time

Action songs such as If You’re Happy and You Know It also aid the preschoolers in getting involved. Kids are smiling and music plays a necessary role in classroom games during the preschool level.

Preschool First Day Fun Games 

The best method of breaking the ice and making the toddlers relax can be done through games. The following are some of the uncomplicated but effective fun 3-year-old preschool games:

• Simon Says (Toddler Version): Easy instructions such as clap, jump or sit may be used.

• Pass the Ball: The children will send a ball round as music plays and the child holding the ball when the music finishes introduces himself.

• Animal Walks: Children have to walk as various animals, e.g., a bunny is hopping or an elephant is stomping.

• Follow the Leader: Good in teaching routine since children imitate the actions of teacher.

Such preschool classroom games do not only serve to make the day joyful, but also develop listening and movement skills.

Day one Preschool Learning Activities

Though fun is something to consider, the first day may also consist of simple preschool learning activities that would expose children to educational concepts without overwhelming them.

• Shape Sorting: Use cutouts in circles, squares and triangles.

• Counting: Rhymes such as Five Little Ducks can be taught to learn counting.

• Alphabet Hunt: Place card display and request children to locate similar letters in and around the classroom.

• Puzzle Play: Jigsaw puzzles (Simple): Simple jigsaw puzzles allow the player to practice problem solving.

They are light, interactive activities in preschool among the toddlers, which initiate them into learning.

Preschooler First Day Activities Calming

All children do not come out on their first day being outgoing. Some may feel shy or anxious. The following are calming preschool activities of 3 year olds:

• Silent Reading Corner: There are soft cushions and picture books which are used to make an environment that is quiet.

• Drawing and Coloring: The drawings are simple coloring sheets with figures or animals on it.

• Soft Toy Time: Toddlers are able to feel secure by touching or playing with stuffed toys.

• Light Yoga or Meditation: Simple stretches or rich breathing using images of your choice such as smell flower, blow the candle.

These relaxing first day activities preschool thoughts make the children feel secure and slowly become open.

Advice to Teachers on the First Day

Make activities brief: Toddlers possess limited attention span; change activity after every 10-15 minutes.

• Balance structure and play: Play and preschool learning activities.

• Give comfort: Be prepared to give the children that are adapting to separation comfort, reassurance, and patience through hugging.

• Engage parents: Parents should be engaged in a brief activity that will enable the transition of the toddlers to the new setting.

• Be happy with little achievements: Like everything, complement even the tiniest action, like sharing toys or introducing oneself.

Final Thoughts

The activities that a preschool teacher does on the first day establish the mood of a child throughout the school life. The correct combination of play, creativity, and mild learning can make the nervous moments become joyful in the preschool activities of 3 year olds. Whether it is fun preschool games or preschool classroom games and relaxing routines, all these activities will help to create a sense of confidence and belonging.

Planning the activities that toddlers should engage in in the preschool, teachers do not only assist in the adjustment of the children, but also get them eager to come back the following day. Anyway, the end of the first day has to be always with happy faces and burning hearts.

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