If you’re like most people, you’re subscribed to tons of email newsletters, most of which never get opened after they hit your inbox.

Preschool newsletters for parents are different. The information you have to share is important to parents, and they’ll almost always open that email.

Why? Because preschool newsletters for parents…

Engage. You can’t over-communicate with parents. They care deeply about what’s happening in their child’s school, because their child is the dearest thing to their heart. The more they know, the better they feel.
Educate. Parents are constantly hunting for information about their child’s development and how best to prepare for those next stages. By sharing child-rearing philosophies, you prepare parents for different developmental stages and demonstrate that you advocate for their well-being. For example, sharing that biting is an age-appropriate response for a child who can’t communicate yet will ease the mind of a parent whose toddler is doing just that.
Inform. Preschool newsletters notify parents of upcoming programs and events happening in your child care center. It keeps parents in the loop so they can take action and be prepared.
Reinforce peace of mind. All these elements work together to remind parents why they chose your school and that your school’s teachers contribute to their child’s success and growth. It’s a team effort.

6 Topics to Include in Your Preschool Newsletter for Parents

Next, we’ll cover six topics you may want to include in a preschool newsletter for parents, and where to find content for them. These aren’t in any particular order, and we’re not recommending you include all that information in every newsletter.

In fact, it’s advantageous to keep newsletters brief. We’re all busy, and the reason we never get around to opening all those newsletters in our inboxes is because we lack the time. Parents want the information your newsletter provides, but why not make it easy for them to consume?

Instead of huge blocks of text, include links for parents to follow if they’re interested. Or, include an embedded video they can watch. Going the extra mile to make your newsletter interesting and interactive will increase your open rates and keep parents reading!

Here are six topics you can include in preschool newsletters for parents:

1. Time-Sensitive News

This type of content is based on current events. It lets parents know what’s happening in and around your school.

Link to Your Menu

Providing a link to your weekly or monthly menu reassures parents that their child’s nutritional needs are being met. They may even print the menu and stick it to their fridge so they can make complementary meals at home.

Classroom Activities

You can include classroom activities in your newsletter one of two ways.

Either share pictures of activities after the fact, or let parents know what’s happening in the near future. Explain how those future activities tie into your curriculum and what developmental skills the children will learn from them.

For example, if the activity is literacy-based, explain what books the kids are reading or what the unit of study looks like so parents can reinforce it at home.

Sharing what’s happening in your school every week helps parents start conversations with their child. When they pick their child up, they can ask specific questions about activities instead of the basic “What did you do today?” — which usually results in the disappointing response of “Nothing.”

Weather-Related Information

You may not think you’d need to remind parents to send a raincoat with their child on a rainy day, but people are busy and forgetfulness happens. Newsletters are a great place to remind parents of weather policies and where to look for information about school closures.

You can also include notices about special events like swim days, complete with reminders to pack swimsuits and sunscreen.

Explanation of School Closures

Any time there’s an upcoming school closure, notify parents through your newsletter. List the closure dates and what holiday is being celebrated (when applicable). This helps parents plan ahead and coordinate alternative child care if necessary.

2. Upcoming Events and Programs

To ensure maximum participation, include information about upcoming events and programs in preschool newsletters to parents. Be sure to cover everything, from seasonal events like toy drives to special events like daddy-daughter dances.

Programs like summer camp or spring break care, which may require special enrollment, are also important to feature in preschool newsletters for parents, both to encourage enrollment and to remind parents of the need to enroll.

3. Educational Content

Educational resources are a fantastic addition to preschool newsletters for parents. There are many to choose from, but here are some of our favorites:

Parents.com boasts a wealth of educational content. It’s well-known and highly reputable.
ParentTV.com is another exceptional resource with hundreds of videos and articles to explore.
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) has many articles and pdfs about child development available on their website. It’s an excellent resource for detailed, accurate information.
ABCMouse is an excellent online curriculum for children ages 2–8. Also look into your own curriculum provider; they’ll likely have content available, as well. If you’re part of a franchise, be sure you’re familiar with any online curriculum the franchise offers and take advantage of the associated marketing collateral they provide.

4. Personal Touchpoints

This kind of content is all about building community. It forms strong bonds within your school and among the families who bring their children there.

Children’s Birthdays

Each newsletter can include a list of the children celebrating birthdays that month. It’s a fun way to recognize those kids and give them a moment in the spotlight!

Family Highlights

Consider highlighting one family each month in your newsletter. Getting to know a new family encourages community bonding and helps parents recognize each other.

Staff/Teacher Highlights

Bringing attention to anniversaries and birthdays lets parents know just how long your teachers have been with your school. Reinforcing staff experience gives parents much-needed peace of mind that their child is in capable hands.

5. Convenience Content

Convenience content is exactly what it sounds like: content that makes parents’ lives easier.

Referral Program

You’ll want to mention your referral program (if you have one) in your newsletter for two reasons:

It shows parents you want more families just like them, making them feel appreciated.
It boosts enrollment.

Tuition Payment

Including a link to your payment portal offers parents an easy way to pay their child’s tuition. Plus, it’s a subtle, friendly reminder.

6. Differentiators

Defining what sets your school apart from the rest is always a good idea, and your newsletter is a great place to bring attention to those differentiators.

One of our clients wrote nearly 300 “Did you know?” statements about his school and included one in every newsletter: “Did you know we only cook from scratch?” “Did you know Ms. Thompson has a doctorate in Early Childhood Development?”

By consistently putting that information in front of families, he brought attention to the things that made his school different that parents may not have been aware of. You can do the same!

Also, highlight your differentiators by mentioning any time you improve your facility or install new equipment. For example, announce in your newsletter if you’re planning to refurbish your playground, or if you’ve just installed a ZONO sanitizing cabinet that kills 99.9% of germs on hard-to-wash surfaces.

Preschool Newsletters for Parents: Final Thoughts

Remember, this is a list of suggested content to include throughout all your preschool newsletters to parents, not to include in every newsletter. Balance your content in whatever way best serves your audience.

This is also not an exhaustive list of content. Use your creativity to come up with ideas unique to your school!

Remember, parents want the information you have. Don’t disappoint them. Make newsletters a priority in your child care business.

If you struggle to fit newsletter writing into your schedule or aren’t sure where to start, give us a call. We’re happy to help you get started!

Where to Get Content for Your Preschool’s Parent Newsletter