Read "Knuffle Bunny Too" by Mo Willems and invite preschoolers to bring a favorite stuffed animal to school. Have preschoolers paint pictures of their stuffed animals or take photos of preschoolers with their stuffed friends and hang on a bulletin board. Invite parents to stay on the first day to enjoy a reading of "The Kissing Hand" by Audrey Penn. Pass out heart stickers for parents to place on their preschoolers' hands. Invite parents and preschoolers to paint large hearts. Take a photo of the family to put inside the hearts. Display hearts around the room so preschoolers have a friendly face looking down at them.
During the first few days of school, take a picture of each student for a preschool keepsake page. Let preschoolers use finger paints to stamp hand prints next to their pictures. Take a class picture and add to the keepsake page. Write fun facts about each student around the page, such as his height, favorite foods, favorite animals or things he likes to do. Let students use stickers to finish decorating their keepsake pages.
Help preschoolers learn each other's names by playing "Toss the Ball" or "Whose Name Is This?" In "Toss the Ball" have preschoolers stand in a circle and toss around a soft ball. When a student catches the ball, she says her name and something about herself, such as a favorite food or color. In "Whose Name Is It?" hold up a sentence strip with a student's name written on it. Spell the child's name while pointing to the letters. Finish by reading the child's name. When the child recognizes her name, she jumps up and says something she likes. Sing songs that use students' names every day, such as "Good Morning To You" or "Here I Am."
Provide time for preschoolers to explore different activities that will be available in the room most of the year. Fill the water table with water and a bit of dish soap to make a fun bubble center. Set out play dough, rollers and cookie cutters on a table. Fill the math area with puzzles and building blocks. Set up a dramatic play area complete with a house theme so students see familiar sights, such as a play oven, refrigerator, baby crib with dolls and blankets, a tool bench with plastic tools and chairs or beanbags for relaxing. Place white sheets of paper on art easels along with baby jars filled with bright paints. Give students time to explore and play with the focus on getting involved and not on creating a specific project or completing a certain task. Invite parents to play for the first hour of the first day to help students transition.