Preschool Malaysia: 6 Childcare and Preschool Orientation Ideas

You’re probably getting ready to welcome new families and students to your daycare centre or Preschool Malaysia as the new school year approaches. It’s never too early to start planning for your new parent orientation day, whether you’re still receiving applications or are already full.

A well-thought-out orientation may aid in the formation of strong bonds with new families and the preparation of pupils for success at your centre. Here are six things to do during your orientation to impress new families and start the school year on a positive note.

1. As soon as each family arrives, greet them and make them feel at ease.

Ask one (or a few) of your staff members to greet families when they arrive before your orientation so that everyone is appropriately welcomed. Your greeter can also remind attendees of any COVID-19 safety precautions you have in place for the event, such as donning a mask or using hand sanitizer before entering.

Prepare your greeters for common queries, such as how long the orientation will be or what the timetable will be. This will instil confidence in your greeters and ensure that your new family receive the information they require as soon as they come through your doors!

Set up a welcome table near the entrance with a sign-in sheet, name tags, and other resources to make parents feel at ease and ready for the orientation. Make sure each parent’s name badge includes the student’s name; this will help you, your staff, and other new parents get to know each family.

2. Use a fun icebreaker to assist parents get to know one another at orientation.

Orientations are a terrific way for families to get to know one another. The sooner new parents experience a feeling of community and belonging in your programme, the better!

Start your orientation with a pleasant activity to give parents a chance to talk before moving on to the main portion of your schedule. This will assist your guests become more acquainted with one another, as well as establish the tone for the remainder of the orientation.

The following are some examples of parent icebreaker activities:

• Inviting each family to identify themselves and share their top priorities for the upcoming school year
• Human Bingo is a game that allows parents to learn intriguing facts about one another.
• Organizing a scavenger expedition for families to learn about your facilities by dividing them into teams.
• Pose a fun introductory question to each family, such as what their favourite preschool snack was.

Setting up a refreshment table and allowing families to eat and chat for the first 15-20 minutes of the orientation could also suffice. You don’t need to do anything elaborate as long as you provide opportunities for families to interact!

3. Before the first day of school, give an orientation presentation on what new families should know.

Many programmes believe it’s important to give parents a brief presentation before school starts. Whether it’s a speech, slideshow, or film, the presentation format should be one you’re comfortable with and displays your program’s best.

The following items could be included in your presentation:

-The history of your centre and the principles it espouses in terms of education

-A brief introduction to your team

-Procedures for dropping off and picking up

-Overview of the curriculum

-Policies governing tuition

-Calendar

-Expectations for communication and exemplary practises

-How can families volunteer and participate?

-Any technology you’ll be utilising all year, such as the brightwheel app

Remember to provide plenty of time for questions and answers. You’ll be covering a lot of ground in a short period of time, so expect a lot of questions from new parents for you and your team!

Check out our 10 Ways to Boost Family Participation at Your Childcare Center or Preschool for more ideas on how to impress families and get them interested in your centre.

4. Give a walking tour of your daycare centre or preschool to new families.

New families will be keen to tour your facilities so they can have a better idea of what their children will be doing on a regular basis. Show your visitors around your facility and explain what their children will be doing in each section. Remind parents how different aspects of your classrooms encourage various learning benefits, such as fine and gross motor development and creative expression.

Check read our blog piece, How to Talk About Early Learning with Parents—and Why You Should, for more information on how to communicate the importance of your programme to families.

You can also ask your teachers to take parents around their classrooms or help lead other parts of the tour if you manage a larger centre. Remember to show families any key outdoor places, such as your playground or drop-off and pick-up zones.

5. Schedule teacher meet-and-greets so that parents can learn more about your staff.

Even if your presentation includes a teacher introduction, give families opportunity to meet your staff. Connecting with instructors will boost new families’ trust in your programme and encourage parental involvement.

Here are some suggestions for teacher get-togethers:

• Each instructor should be assigned to their own classroom. Allow families to examine the classroom and ask any questions they may have to the teacher.
• Each teacher can deliver a brief speech about themselves and what they’re looking forward to in the new school year. Allow time for families to ask follow-up questions at the end.
• If there will be youngsters at your orientation, have teachers lead learning activities that the entire family can engage in. You can also set up photo stations for instructors and students so that everyone remembers how much fun the orientation was!
• Prepare printouts of “Meet the Teacher” for families to take home. A photo of each instructor, contact information, a list of their favourite things that children can relate to (such as colour, snack, and book), and a welcoming remark to students can all be included.

6. After your childcare or preschool orientation, follow up with new families.

Families will be busy taking in a lot of new information during your orientation, and they may not remember everything they learn. Send them a follow-up note before the first day of school, emphasising the most critical things they need to know.

You might add images from your orientation in your greeting and tell families how thrilled you are to begin a new year with them. In the meantime, don’t forget to remind them that you’re ready to answer any questions they may have!

Summary

Childcare and preschool orientations are a great way to welcome new families and help them feel comfortable with your programme. By following these tips, you can ensure that your orientation is informative, engaging, and memorable!

You now have the ideas about preschool orientation and how it could help you with your new families. Don’t forget to share this article to your friends who might interested on this topic.

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