Starting the Preschool Year with Kindness: Why It Matters from Day One
The first days of the preschool year are more than routines, name tags, and introductions. They are the foundation upon which children — and teachers — will build the months ahead. Setting the tone with kindness from the very start not only makes children feel safe and welcomed in the short term, but it also nurtures habits of empathy, cooperation, and trust that extend far beyond the first weeks and the classroom.
Why Kindness from Day One Matters
- Immediate impact on belonging. Young children entering preschool may be experiencing separation from caregivers for the first time. Acts of kindness — gentle reassurance, a smile, an extra moment of patience — help children feel secure and cared for, easing transitions and reducing anxiety.
- Long-term effects on classroom culture. When kindness is modeled consistently, children learn that this is the norm. Over time, classrooms built on kindness tend to have fewer conflicts, more collaborative play, and higher levels of engagement.
- Development of social and emotional skills. Early experiences of kindness teach children to regulate emotions, express empathy, and problem-solve with peers. These skills not only support healthy relationships in preschool but also set the stage for kindergarten readiness and lifelong success.
- Kindness skills are a cornerstone of kindergarten readiness. Before children can fully engage in academic learning, they need the social-emotional foundation that kindness helps establish. Practicing kindness supports children in regulating their emotions, developing self-awareness, and recognizing how their actions affect those around them. These abilities make it easier for children to navigate group settings, build positive relationships, and adapt to the structure of a kindergarten classroom. In this way, kindness not only creates a smoother transition into formal schooling but also unlocks the capacity for deeper learning.
Simple Ways to Start the Year with Kindness
- Create a Warm Welcome. Greet each child by name at the door with a smile. Small rituals, like a high-five, handshake, or wave, signal to children that they are valued individuals.
- Practice Daily Kindness Rituals. Introduce a “kindness moment” each morning where children can share something nice someone did for them or something kind they plan to do. This builds awareness and intention around kindness.
- Model Gentle Responses. Inevitably, conflicts will arise. Using calm, compassionate language to resolve them shows children how kindness applies even in difficult situations.
- Celebrate Acts of Kindness. Create a kindness board or jar where teachers and students can note kind deeds. Visible reminders reinforce that kindness is not only noticed but also celebrated.
- Read Stories About Kindness. Books about helping, sharing, or empathy provide shared language and scenarios children can connect to and practice in their own play.
- Include Families. Send a simple note home encouraging families to share ways they practice kindness at home. This bridges school and home, reinforcing consistency in shared goals for children.
The Ripple Effect
When kindness is seeded early, it ripples outward. In the short term, children feel safer, teachers find more joy in their work, and parents sense greater harmony in the classroom. In the long term, children carry forward not only the memory of being treated kindly but also the tools to extend kindness to others and delight in how joyful it feels to be kind. What begins as a tone-setting choice in the first days of preschool can echo throughout the school year and, in many ways, across a lifetime.
Looking for a seamless way to bring kindness to your classroom? Kindness Connections is a play-based enrichment kit with 4 kindness books that weaves topics like emotions, compassion, gratitude, responsibility, and much more into 30 thematic learning activities that children love. Order your copy or talk to our team to discover how you can bring Kindness Connections to your school!
About the Author
Laureen Reynolds is Highlights Early Learning's Director of Product and a former preschool teacher.