As holidays approach, preschoolers love to celebrate with special days during which they can create crafts, make special food and play holiday-themed games. Have a Halloween parade, a Thanksgiving feast and a Christmas craft day. Celebrate Valentine's by making some treats and cards, and host an Easter egg hunt. Don't limit the celebration to one day either, because events that lead up to the holidays will build anticipation for the big day.
According to the Harvard Family Research Project report "Getting Parents 'Ready' for Kindergarten," children may do better in elementary school when parents are involved in early childhood education. Get moms, dads, siblings and extended families involved in preschool by hosting special events. Parents can get to know other families at a family game night. In the fall, have an autumn celebration where families can jump in leaves, carve jack-o'-lanterns and participate in a scavenger hunt. Invite men involved in the children's lives to a pajama story time around Father's Day or host moms and grandmas at a Mother's Day tea. Have a special day just for grandparents to come in and experience a day of preschool.
Performances take a lot of time and planning, but it is important to provide children the opportunity to show off what they have learned for friends and family. Two performances a year is a good goal: one in December or January and one before the school year ends. Include seasonal songs, rhymes and finger plays. The end-of-the-year performance can showcase what the children have learned throughout the year and include a small graduation ceremony for children who are moving on to elementary school.
To keep children motivated and interested in attending school, plan special days throughout the year that they can look forward to. Have a pajama day where everyone dresses in their pj's and the class can snuggle in for some extra reading time. Have a popcorn-and-movie day when the regular routine becomes monotonous. In the winter, host a beach day during which children can wear shorts, T-shirts and sunglasses and play in an indoor sandbox. When the weather warms up, host a splash day and allow children to run in the sprinkler, throw water balloons, run water relays and play in a water table. The Web site Early Childhood News states that these water activities are not only entertaining, but educational as well.
For a preschool that has transportation, there are many inexpensive locations that 3- and 4-year-olds will enjoy visiting. Children will like seeing the animals at a local farm or zoo, touring a local fire station or going to a hands-on museum. A community playground may be close enough to walk to at the end of the year. Take a picnic or stop at an ice-cream stand to reward children who have worked hard all year long.