Daycare centres, preschools, kindergartens and early learning centres fundraise just like schools, for equipment, for playground upgrades, for the extras that make a centre special, but with an added challenge: your community is families with very young children, and any event has to suit little ones and their bedtimes. A family movie night, planned with the youngest in mind, is one of the best daycare and preschool fundraiser ideas there is. It gathers your families for a warm, gentle evening, raises real money, and asks almost nothing of your educators because we run the screen. Here is how Perth early learning centres do it.
Why a Movie Night Suits a Daycare or Preschool Fundraiser
Early learning centres have small, tight-knit communities of families who genuinely want to support the centre, but who are also exhausted parents of toddlers. A movie night meets them where they are: it is a relaxed, come-as-you-are evening, the kids can be kids, and nobody has to dress up or arrange a babysitter. It raises money through tickets and a simple canteen, and because we deliver, set up, operate and pack down the screen, your educators are not lumbered with logistics on top of their week. For a small centre, it is a rare fundraiser that feels like a treat for the families rather than another ask.
Timing for Little Ones
The key difference for a daycare event is timing. Toddlers cannot wait until 8pm for a midsummer sunset, so plan an early-evening start, a short film, and an earlier date in the season when it gets dark sooner. In spring the picture is crisp from around 7pm, which is workable for young families, and a 45-to-70-minute film means little ones are home not long after. My darkness guide helps you pick a date and start time that suits toddler bedtimes.
Which Screen for a Centre
Centre events vary in size. For a smaller centre gathering its families in a courtyard or on a modest lawn, the 3m inflatable screen from $280 may be plenty. For a larger centre or a combined event expecting a few hundred, the 5m community screen from $600 is the right call. Both include the screen, projector, PA, delivery and setup, and the 5m comes fully operated. Tell us your numbers and I will point you to the right one, or see the screen size guide.
The Money Side
Film Picks for Toddlers
Go gentle and familiar: a Bluey compilation is home turf for Perth toddlers, or a short, bright animated film with no scary moments. Keep it short. You supply the film through your own device; the projector takes any HDMI feed.
Comfort for Young Families
Encourage families to bring rugs, cushions and the kids in their pyjamas, it sets the gentle tone and makes the early bedtime transition easy. A flat, close layout means prams and toddlers are easy to manage. Add bean bags for extra comfy seating if you like. The whole idea is relaxed and low-key, which is exactly what your families need.
The Licence
A centre fundraiser open to families and ticketed is a public screening, so it needs a screening licence for the film, and a personal or centre streaming account does not cover it. It is inexpensive and I arrange it with you when you book. See my licence guide for the detail.
Booking Your Centre Movie Night
Planned around little ones
An early start and a short film mean toddlers are home in good time, and an earlier date in the season, when it gets dark sooner, helps too. Encourage families to bring rugs and the kids in pyjamas for a gentle, easy evening that eases the bedtime transition.
The right screen for a centre
A smaller centre gathering in a courtyard suits the 3m screen; a larger one or a combined event the 5m. We deliver, set up and pack down, so your educators simply bring families out and serve afternoon tea.
The licence for a ticketed event
A centre fundraiser open to families and ticketed needs a screening licence, and a personal or centre streaming account does not cover it. It is inexpensive and I sort it with you when you book.
Lock a gentle date
Tell me your numbers and date via the contact page and I will match the screen and include delivery. See the community page for the range, and aim for a warmer, earlier-dark evening so the littlest guests can stay for the whole film.
What is included, and how to book
Every community and school hire is all-inclusive: the screen, a matched projector, a professional PA, delivery, setup, full operation on the night and pack-down, with free delivery within 20km of Kwinana. Not sure which size fits your crowd, our screen size guide matches the screen to your numbers, and our weather policy sets out the wet-weather plan. For the fundraising method see the school movie night fundraiser guide, and the schools and community page for the full range. Send your crowd, venue and date through the contact page and we will match the screen and sort the screening licence in one email. For a larger or council-run programme our council programme guide and the community events page are worth a look, and we bring a silent battery inverter for sites where mains power is a walk from the seating.