Home visits are planned to last at least 45 minutes, exclusive of travel time, and include both the child and the child’s family.
Purpose:
Home visits offer a unique opportunity to connect with the family and child in their space. This can make them feel more comfortable meeting someone who is or will become an important part of the child’s life. For this reason, it is strongly recommended that the home visit occurs after the child is enrolled, but before the child begins the classroom program. The primary purpose of the visit is to establish a foundation for a positive partnership between home and school. It is designed to help the child and family with the transition into GSRP. A home visit focused solely on completing program paperwork does not meet the spirit of the requirement.
Recommendations:
- Establishing the two-way relationship before the first day of school helps the family and child be more comfortable with the transition. This can set the tone for the child’s entire school career helping families understand that they can be advocates and speak up for what they need.
- Home visits establish the foundation of trust between early childhood professionals and families. To foster open communication and deeper understanding, professionals should create opportunities for meaningful connections during these initial visits.
- A simple yet effective approach involves mutual introductions where the professional shares something personal about themselves, then invites the family to share a favorite activity or cherished tradition. This exchange helps families feel valued, seen, and heard while establishing the groundwork for ongoing collaboration.
- Before the home visit, share photos, an introduction, what to expect at the home visit, and a welcome to school message. After the visit, share information the family will need to ease the transition to school like, contact information, what to expect the first day of school information, what the child should bring to school, and transportation information.
- Where staff safety is a concern, teaching teams may complete home visits in pairs. Itineraries should be distributed to the pertinent staff who should be aware of the home visitor’s location(s). A cell phone should be carried, and valuables should be locked in the trunk before arriving at the destination.
