A preschool open house is an event where prospective families visit a childcare program to meet teachers, tour the facility, and learn about the curriculum. Hosting an open house is one of the most effective ways to showcase your educational philosophy, build relationships with the community, and ultimately boost enrollment.
Plan one in seven steps: choose a date, promote the event, recruit volunteers, set up a welcoming space, prepare take-home materials, offer an enrollment incentive, and follow up within 48 hours.
Preschool Open House Checklist
A free checklist to help you host a successful preschool open house for prospective families.
What makes a successful preschool open house?
A successful open house creates a welcoming environment that allows families to envision their child in your care. It combines a strategic date and time, engaging activities, clear communication about your program’s values, and organized follow-up to convert visitors into enrolled families.
Here are the essential steps to plan and run one.
1. What is the best date and time for a preschool open house?
Early weeknights often work best for families with young children, and the event should happen about two months before enrollment applications are due.
Ensure your event does not overlap with significant local events, such as festivals, major sports games, or school graduations. Avoid holidays, as many families travel or have other commitments. To give prospective families enough time to assess your program, hold your open house about two months before enrollment applications are due. You might also consider hosting multiple events to accommodate different schedules.
2. How do you promote a preschool open house?
Promote the event on every channel your program has, including social media, Instagram, your website, and word of mouth from current families and staff. Use every channel available to reach your community.
- Social media: Share posts on all your pages in the weeks leading up to the date. Create a public event on Facebook including the date, time, and location, and encourage your followers to share it.
- Instagram: Post an image of your flyer and include a link to your website in your bio. Use hashtags to help local families find you when searching for childcare programs.
- Website: Place a banner on your homepage so visitors see the details immediately.
- Word of mouth: Ask enrolled families and staff to spread the word. Personal recommendations are highly effective. You might even offer a referral bonus to current families if a new family they refer enrolls.
For more ways to reach local families, see our guide to promoting your open house and childcare program.
3. Who should help at a preschool open house?
Ask staff members and current families to volunteer at least a month in advance, and assign greeters to welcome guests at the door. You need a support team onsite to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Prospective families appreciate the chance to connect with teachers and hear directly from other families about their positive experiences. If your facility is large, station volunteers in each classroom and outside play areas so visitors can easily ask questions.
4. How do you make a preschool open house welcoming?
Organize classrooms, display children’s work, offer healthy refreshments, and plan simple activities that keep children engaged while you talk with their guardians. Organizing classrooms, displaying lesson examples, and providing snacks creates a warm setting that makes a great first impression.
- Display children’s work: Showcase art and projects in hallways and classrooms to give families a glimpse of the curriculum.
- Provide refreshments: Offer healthy snacks like fruit, crackers, and water. This demonstrates that you value nutrition.
- Plan engaging activities: Set up simple arts and crafts or scavenger hunts to keep children occupied while you connect with their guardians. This helps you get to know the whole family.
5. What materials should you hand out at an open house?
Provide take-home handouts such as program brochures, enrollment packets, sample daily schedules, FAQ sheets, and your family handbook. Families take in a lot of information during a visit, so handouts make it easy to review details later and keep your program top of mind as they evaluate their options.
- Program brochures
- Enrollment packets
- Sample daily schedules and calendars
- FAQ sheets
- Family handbooks
Organize these materials on a clearly marked table near the entrance or exit. You can also assign a staff member to ensure every guest leaves with a packet.
6. Should you offer an enrollment incentive at an open house?
Consider waiving or discounting the registration fee for applications submitted during the event or within a set window, such as one week afterward. A common strategy is an exclusive incentive for attendees to encourage families to apply.
Set up a station with printed applications, pens, or tablets for online submissions. Brightwheel is childcare management software with digital enrollment forms and signatures that streamline this process for families and staff. Brightwheel saves each admin and staff member 20 hours per month of administrative work.
7. How should you follow up after a preschool open house?
Send a personal email or make a phone call within 48 hours of the event, referencing the connection you made with the family. Collecting contact information from every visitor is crucial.
When you meet new families, try to find a moment of personal connection—perhaps a shared interest or a specific question they had about your curriculum. In your message, reference that connection, thank them for visiting, and summarize why your program is the right fit for them. This personal touch ensures your program stays top of mind as they make their final decision.
NAEYC’s guidance on engaging in reciprocal partnerships with families recommends regular, frequent, two-way communication, which is a useful standard for your follow-up and beyond.
Preschool open house planning timeline
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| At least 1 month before the event | Ask staff and current families to volunteer. |
| In the weeks before the event | Promote on social media, your website, and through word of mouth. |
| About 2 months before applications are due | Hold the open house. |
| At the event | Greet families, give tours, hand out materials, and set up an enrollment station with your incentive. |
| Within 48 hours after | Send a personal email or make a phone call to every attendee. |
Sample agenda for a preschool open house
This 90-minute agenda covers welcome, presentation, tours, an activity, Q&A, and next steps.
| Time | Segment | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 6:00 PM | Welcome and check-in | Guests are greeted at the entrance and invited to sign in, pick up a welcome packet, and enjoy light refreshments. |
| 6:15 PM | Introduction and presentation | A brief presentation by the preschool director outlining the school’s mission, programs, and philosophy. |
| 6:35 PM | Classroom tours | Guests are guided through the classrooms in small groups, with opportunities to see the learning environment and meet the teaching staff. |
| 7:00 PM | Interactive activity demonstration | Children can participate in a hands-on activity, such as storytelling or a simple craft, while parents and guardians observe or join in. |
| 7:15 PM | Q&A session | An open forum for families to ask questions about the curriculum, daily routines, safety protocols, and enrollment process. |
| 7:30 PM | Closing and feedback collection | Thank attendees for coming, distribute feedback forms, and provide information on next steps for enrollment. |
Frequently asked questions
What activities should be done in a preschool open house?
Interactive activities work best, such as sensory bins, simple art stations, or a classroom scavenger hunt. These allow children to engage with the environment while adults speak with teachers.
How long should a preschool open house last?
Most open houses last between 90 minutes and two hours. This provides enough time for families to tour the facility and ask questions without feeling rushed or overwhelmed.
What is the main purpose of a preschool open house?
The primary goal is to showcase your childcare program’s environment, staff, and curriculum to prospective families. It allows you to build trust and encourage new enrollments by providing a firsthand look at the daily experience.
When should you hold a preschool open house?
Hold your open house about two months before enrollment applications are due. Early weeknights often work best for families with young children, and hosting multiple events can accommodate different schedules.
How soon should you follow up after a preschool open house?
Send a personal email or make a phone call within 48 hours of the event. Reference the connection you made, thank families for visiting, and summarize why your program is the right fit for them.
Wrapping up
An open house is a valuable opportunity to connect with prospective families and highlight the unique qualities of your childcare program. With thoughtful planning and a focus on personalization, your open house can be the first step in forming long-lasting relationships with families and filling your enrollment spots.
