The first day of class is important to all kids and families. This sure-fired list (borrowed from Patti Komara) is sure to have your students get started on the right foot (and the left too!)

  1. Have a friendly greeter at the door to ask if they need to fill out any paperwork, get apparel, or if are they ready for class. Show them to the proper area to wait for their first class.  Don’t have the staff?  Pay one of your older students with a free class to help you out on the first day.
  2. Fill out the membership form as much as you can if they do have to do paperwork Or better yet! or prior to class, send out an email asking them to register online.
  3. If you have a store, have required apparel pulled and waiting for them in their sizes.
  4. Smile and say, “You must be Mrs. Leeds. We’ve been expecting you and Isabel for the 4:00 class.
  5. Take them on a tour (if they haven’t been on one yet). Explain the programs available in addition to the one they are registered for, where the bathrooms are, coat room, lost and found, parent observation, T.V., and where the sibling toys are located.
  6. Introduce your student to their teacher
  7. Especially with new customers, always under-promise and over-deliver. If you said 6:1 ratio, don’t have seven kids there. Give them something the first day.
  8. At the end of class, the teachers should come out and mention something positive about the child to the parents. The office person should ask the parents and kids how they liked the class on their way out. And, thank them for coming.

Remember the Rule of 3′s…  3 seconds to assess you, 30 seconds to trust you, and 3 minutes to see if you meet their needs and wants. That means you greet them with eyebrows stuck to your forehead and a smile on your face. Be likable, and friendly, create a common like or interest, and show a genuine effort to make them happy