Preschool Pickup And Dropoff Procedures

Whether you have 150 students, or even just 15 students, coming in and out of your preschool every day… you need to use our preschool pickup dropoff procedures so your preschool will run like a well-oiled machine!

The Two Minute Preschool Dropoff Routine

Step 1: Parents drive to your home and park.

Step 2: At 8:59 a.m. parents bring their child a wait in your driveway.

Step 3: At 9:00 a.m. you open your door and greet the parents and children.

Step 4: Children line up by garage door.

Step 5: Wave goodbye to parents.

Step 6: Children go into preschool classroom.

Step 7: Parents leave.

Two Things This Dropoff Routine Prevents In Your Preschool

By separating the child from their parents all at the same time, in the driveway, you can eliminate the separation anxiety. There will be a lot less crying and clinging if the children are lining up, waving goodbye, and going inside all at once. You are also able to eliminate the crowded classroom from having all the parents and children inside during dropoff.

The habit of lining up each morning develops a routine for the children. They know how drop off goes: I show up, I line up, I wave goodbye, and I go inside. There are no variables or unknowns about it, so it just becomes the normal way to do things.

The Pickup Routine Goes Just As Smoothly

Step 1: Parents arrive 5 minutes before class ends and wait in their car, if necessary.

Step 2: At 11:29 parents come to your driveway.

Step 3: At 11:30 come out with the children and the children stand in a line by the garage door.

Step 4: You greet the parents: “Hello! We had such a great day! We blew up balloons with baking soda and vinegar, watched what happened when we blew up a balloon with air and then let go of it, and created hot air balloon art.”

Step 5: Say to the children, “If you see your friends or family, go give them a big hug!”

Step 6: Watch to be sure each child gets matched with their parent or caregiver.

Step 7: Wave goodbye and wish them a wonderful day.

Step 8: If necessary, ask any parent(s) to stay behind for a brief chat.

Step 9: If there are any children who haven’t been picked up yet, wait with them in the driveway for their parents.

How Does This Pickup Routine Encourage Parents To Pick Up Their Child On Time?

When a parent is late to pick up their child, they will arrive to see their child standing alone outside with the preschool teacher. They will feel anxiety knowing that they are the last ones and their child had to wait for them to arrive. The peer pressure of being the last one will quickly change the behavior of those who are chronically late arrivers.

Give this pickup and dropoff procedure for your preschool a try. You’ll be glad you did!