Are you ready for a great start? Kick off the school year with confidence.

A new school year is a fresh opportunity to create a warm, welcoming, and intentional environment for young children and their families. Whether you’re in a preschool, Head Start, child care center, or kindergarten classroom, thoughtful preparation before the first day sets the stage for trust, learning, and joyful connection.

Here are 10 ways to welcome the school year—grounded in research and early childhood best practice.

1. Reflect on Your Purpose and Values

Great teaching begins with knowing who you are and what you stand for. in Finding the Joyful Leader Within, Teresa Byington writes:

“You rise as a leader as you reimagine your purpose. To reimagine means to rethink or re-create… consider the impact you want to make as a leader.”

Before the first day, ask:

• What kind of classroom culture do I want to create?
• What values do I want to model?
• How will I help children feel safe, respected, and inspired?

2. Create a Welcoming, Inclusive Environment

Children and families need to see themselves reflected in the classroom. In The Welcoming Classroom, Johnna Darragh Ernst reminds us:

“Mutual respect, reciprocity, and responsiveness create the foundation for developing thriving relationships with families.”

Actions to take:

• Add books and materials representing diverse cultures, languages, and family structures.
• Set up cozy, inviting spaces for play and rest.
• Display children's names, photos, and art to foster belonging.

3. Prepare for Meaningful Family Engagement

Strong partnerships with families begin before the first day. As Cathryn O’Sullivan writes in School-to-Home Connections:

“When parents and teachers partner, children thrive!”

Before school starts:

• Draft a friendly welcome letter or email explaining routines and your teaching philosophy.
• Set up communication tools (apps, newsletters, bulletin boards).
• Learn about families’ languages, cultures, and goals for their children.

4. Emphasize the Power of Play

Play isn’t just an activity—it’s the foundation of early learning. Kristen Kemple argues in Planning For Play:

“Choosing to eliminate or severely restrict play is in effect choosing to seriously restrict young children’s learning.”

Get ready by:

• Stocking open-ended materials for dramatic play, art, and construction.
• Designing learning centers that invite choice and exploration.
• Planning to share the importance of play with families.

5. Review Health and Safety Procedures

Nothing is more important than children’s well-being. Andrew Roszak explains in Preschool Preparedness for an Emergency:

“We must be prepared to protect those who are unable to prepare and protect themselves.”

Before the first day:

• Check emergency plans and evacuation routes.
• Ensure first-aid kits are stocked.
• Review children’s medical needs, allergies, and authorized pickup lists.
• Hear more quick preparedness tips from Andrew Roszak in this video.

6. Plan Your Daily Routine and Transitions

Consistency supports security, while flexibility honors children’s needs. Kay Hastings et al. note in Daily Preschool Experiences for Learners at Every Level:

“Children learn best when they are encountering things that are meaningful to them, things that they can relate to their own ‘real-world experiences.’"

Steps to consider:

• Post a visual schedule using pictures.
• Practice transitions that include songs, cues, or mindfulness moments.
• Balance structured and unstructured time.

7. Foster Language and Cultural Connections

For multilingual and multicultural classrooms, respecting families’ home languages and cultures is essential. Karen Nemeth writes in Many Languages, Building Connections:

“Language is embedded in culture; the two are intertwined.”

Preparation might include:

• Greet children in their home languages.
• Stocking bilingual books.
• Learning key words and phrases from families.

8. Plan for Outdoor and Nature-Based Learning

Nature is a powerful teacher. Rachel Larimore reminds us in Preschool Beyond Walls:

“Children need experiences in nature for their physical, cognitive, social-emotional, and spiritual health. Reciprocally, the natural world needs children to protect and care for it.”

Before day one:

• Inspect outdoor play spaces for safety.
• Plan daily time outside.
• Gather loose parts and natural materials for exploration.

9. Cultivate a Joyful, Supportive Culture—for Yourself and Your Team

Early childhood work is deeply meaningful but can also be challenging. Teresa Byington urges leaders (and teachers) to cultivate joy intentionally:

“Joyful leaders can set the tone for how others will act and react. Your responses to situations, especially difficult ones, influence how your team or children in your classroom will react.”

Tips for the first day (and beyond):

• Practice gratitude and positive affirmations.
• Encourage laughter and playfulness.
• Plan celebrations and traditions that strengthen bonds.
• Catch Dr. Larimore speaking on the power of outdoor education in this episode of our podcast.

10. Prioritize Your Own Self-Care and Resilience

Lastly, remember that you cannot care for others well if you are depleted. Cathryn O’Sullivan puts it simply in School-to-Home Connections:

“If we don’t take care of ourselves, then we can’t take care of anyone else.”

Before the first day:

• Identify small daily practices that bring you restoration.
• Make time for reflection and mindfulness.
• Seek support from colleagues and mentors.

The first day of school is more than a logistical milestone; it’s the beginning of a shared journey. With thoughtful preparation across these ten areas—from family engagement to personal reflection—you’ll create a classroom where children feel safe, valued, and inspired to learn.

Here’s to a joyful, intentional, and connected start to your year!