Preparing for graduation day in preschool…

It won’t be much longer until it is time for graduation day at preschool…

This is an exciting time and milestone for young children as they are preparing to enter into their elementary school years…

Here’s a preview of Teach Preschool’s graduation day!

Here are a few tips if you are planning your graduation ceremony…

Graduation Decorations: Decorate the doors and halls before the big day…

Graduation Diplomas: If you are going to hand out diplomas during the ceremony, practice the hand shake and receiving of the diploma ahead of time so the children will know what to do…

Graduation Hats: Make your own graduation hats or order them early so they will arrive on time. Make sure that the hats will fit too…

Graduation Songs: Choose a few songs for the children to sing for the parents. If you plan for the children to learn a new song, then start teaching it early otherwise choose old favorites that the children have learned through out the school year. Find songs with movement and choose songs that the children can master easily. If the children are not familiar with the songs you choose, the children will not enjoy it as much and you want this to be fun for them! Here is a song I found on You Tube – you can see the children have learned the song well and are having fun singing along…

Special RecognitionOne idea is to give each child a certificate of recognition. This can be done in a fun way and builds off positive traits of the child’s personality. Ideas for special recognition may include, for example…

Child most likely to become a movie star (Likes dramatic play)
Child most likely to become a superhero (Likes to help others)
Child most likely to become an engineer (Likes to build with blocks)
Child most likely to become a dentist (Child who recently has lost the most teeth)

Remember – it is important to build off the positive qualities of a child and never attempt to poke fun of a child’s not so positive qualities as this can definitely backfire.

Slide Show

A short slide show presentation of the graduating class is always fun for parents. Make sure that you include each child equally in the slide show and that you do not make the slide show too long. A simple presentation of the children doing a few fun things throughout the school year is plenty to entertain the audience.

Length of Graduation: Keep your ceremony short and then invite the parents to stay for punch and cookies. A long graduation ceremony doesn’t make it better, only longer:)

Final tips…

Make sure you have enough seating for all the parents.
Make sure you have enough programs to hand out to all the parents.
Make sure you don’t misspell a child’s name on the diploma or on the program.
Make sure you have a microphone or can be easily heard throughout the program.
Make sure the room is not too hot for lots of folks to sit together.
Make sure you have a plan for plenty of parking spaces.
Make sure you have plenty of punch and cookies for the guests.
Make sure you have plenty of help for set-up, clean-up, and serving during the event.