A Day in the Life of a Preschooler at Barrington School

As parents ourselves, we know that sending your little one off to preschool for the first time can feel overwhelming. It’s natural to have questions about what they’ll be doing, who will be watching them, and how they’ll adjust to a new routine. At Barrington Schools, we believe in transparency - parents should know what their children experience throughout the day.  To give you a better idea of how your child learns, plays, and grows while in our care, let’s walk through a typical day in our preschool classroom – beginning with drop-off.  

Morning Arrival: Settling In  Mornings start calmly at Barrington Schools, with most drop-offs happening between 8 and 8:30. When they arrive, parents help children hang up their coats at their cubbies and refill their extra clothes if they need to. Our teachers make sure to greet each child at this time, and offer parents support during the transition to help with any nerves. We also typically have soft music playing and activities on the table to ease the transition. 

“During drop-off, we encourage parents to follow an ‘I love you” ritual before heading out,” explained Brittani Cherri Cherry, Director of Operations at Barrington Schools. “This ritual can be anything, but should be the same routine every day to provide comfort and security as children start their day.”  

Around 8:30, we sit down for a full, balanced breakfast, like eggs, waffles, and milk. Breakfast, lunch, and snacks are all organic and prepared on-site by our personal chef. We also always include protein in every meal to help the tiny humans grow big and strong!  

Learning Through Play 

The classroom really comes alive after breakfast, with children rotating between teacher-led activities and independent play.  

“To keep kids engaged, teachers try to steer any group activities toward what they are actually interested in,” noted Brittani. “In October, they were fascinated by all things Halloween, so they did activities like counting pumpkin seeds or spooky-themed crafts.” 

Even in play, we weave in learning - identifying letters, colors, and shapes, or practicing counting - so children are building skills while having fun. 

We also encourage a lot of autonomous play in this classroom. Some kids may go to the dramatic play area and get lost in their own imaginations, while others are drawn to Legos or racing cars on the tracks. During this time, they’re in their own little communities, learning to work together, take turns, negotiate, and share.  

Additionally, when we do arts and crafts, we focus on exploration and creativity in our preschool classroom.

“Instead of giving step-by-step instructions like ‘glue a to b’, teachers encourage children to experiment with materials and follow their own creative process,” added Brittani. “It’s less about making a perfect finished product and more about expressing themselves freely – and having fun while doing it.” 

Outdoor Time  We make it a priority to get outside as much as possible. As long as the weather cooperates, children spend about 45 minutes outdoors in the morning and another hour in the afternoon. Fresh air, open space, and time to move their bodies are all essential parts of their day.  

Lunch and Rest 

Lunchtime is another opportunity to promote independence and healthy eating habits through family-style dining.  Children serve themselves - scooping their own peas, pouring their own milk – helping them to understand portion sizes and their own hunger cues. Our teachers also serve themselves at lunch and sit down to eat with the kids, encouraging them to explore the foods in a non-pressure way and discuss different textures and tastes. 

After lunch, it's quiet time in the classroom. Children get nap linens out of their cubbies, and everyone settles into their own cot. We create a restful environment by turning soft music on and dimming the lights, and our teachers will go through some sort of ritual to cue the class into naptime, such as reading a story or singing a song. At this age, we’re starting to see kids pivot away from naps, though there are still some children who use this rest period to actually sleep. We encourage quiet activities for those who don’t nap as the rest period is still important for development.

Afternoon Exploration 

We offer the kids a snack immediately following the nap period, and then move into more outdoor time, play-based learning, and enrichment activities.   

“We're excited to offer enrichment classes every day,” Brittani shared. “Throughout the week, kids have the chance to take part in yoga, two different sports classes, music and dance class.”  

These classes are key for building gross motor skills, something we especially emphasize in winter months when outdoor activities are limited.  

Pick-Up 

Pick-up usually begins around 4 p.m., with children engaged in free play as families arrive. As our classroom sizes drop over the course of pick-ups, we may combine with the directly younger or older classrooms, giving children the opportunity to interact with their peers.  

Explore Our Preschool Program Firsthand 

If you peeked into our preschool classroom, you’d see children busy, curious, and happy, surrounded by teachers dedicated to helping them learn and building important skills that will prepare them for kindergarten. From early writing and reading readiness to learning how to manage emotions and function as a group, each part of the day is intentional, designed to spark curiosity and build confidence. In our preschool classroom, we abide by an 8:1 child-to-teacher ratio – lower than the state’s requirements – to ensure each child gets the attention and guidance needed to thrive.  

At Barrington Schools, we nurture the skills your child will need for tomorrow while celebrating where they are today. Experience the difference our preschool program can make and schedule a tour at one of our 12 locations. 

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