Time for Home Visits!!!
I remember how excited the children were when I made visits to their homes. They would show me their pets, their favorite stuffed animals, and introduce me to the members of their families. Then, there was always that child who was shy and didn't know what to do or how to act with a strange person in their home that they soon would spend several hours a day with.
Home visits can leave a lasting first impression on many children and their families; therefore we adults need to be very sensitive to each individual child and family. Take the opportunity to spend some time and get to know the child, what their favorite things are and something they are looking forward to when they get in the classroom. Building a good relationship with the child and family will set the groundwork for effective communication throughout the school year.
Be sure to bring your camera along and take a picture of the child with some of their favorite things. It is also a good idea to take a picture of the child with their family members if possible (if not, be sure to ask parents to bring a picture of the family to leave at the classroom). Lastly, take a picture of you and the child together. These pictures should be placed in the classroom before the first day for the children to see when they arrive.
Remember that families are often nervous about having you visit their home. They may not feel it is "up to par" or what you might expect to see. Oftentimes a home is a mere shelter and place to rest and the uneasiness that comes with being judged can make families resistant to your visit. All families have different living situations and this is a time for you to learn more about the individual culture of each child and take what you have learned and incorporate it into your classroom.
Usually there is some paperwork that needs to be completed by the parent (such as requesting what method of communication they prefer: text, phone, email, written note, etc.) and you will want to be readily available to answer questions and offer support in completing it. A great idea is to bring some toys and materials from the classroom to entertain the children during this time period. Remember that there will likely be other children, younger or older, that will want to use the materials as well. Borrowing our CARES bags from the Resource Center would provide for different materials for a different ages and is easy to carry!
Finally, just remember that this is a great opportunity to build a relationship with the child. Paving a way for a great first day and smooth transition to school!
Contact your local Resource Center at 1-877-614-7328 to check out what CARES bags and other materials we have available that could be used during your home visits!
