Engaging Families

2.    Engage the family in collaborative transition planning:

  • Receiving practitioners conduct a home visit before the child enters the new setting to build rapport with the child and family, gather information, and discuss general classroom structure, activities, and routines.

Home visits provide a comfortable and effective way for teachers to gather information about child and family needs.
Initial home visits with the child and family should focus on the following:

  • building a relationship with the child and family,
  • describing the program to the family,
  • determining what the family’s worries and concerns are about the transition, and
  • determining with the family what activities will support them in preparing their child for that first day in the new setting.

Home visits after the transition can be effective in allowing teachers an opportunity to “check-in” with the family to ensure their needs are being met in the new program.

  • Practitioners ensure that meetings address the unique needs of the family to support their participation.
    • The strengths and needs of the family should be considered when identifying specific activities and supports as part of the transition planning processes.
    • Meetings should be held at times and locations that are accessible to the family.
    • Transition information should be provided to the family in their home language.
    • Specific follow-up and contact information should always be provided so family members know who to contact if they have questions or concerns about the transition process.

Watch the video and identify ways the teacher begins to build a relationship with a child and their family during a home visit.

Video 2.3: Highlights of a home visit

A home visit by a receiving teacher before the child starts preschool to build rapport, gather information and share information about what the first day of school will be like. (running time: 3 min. 03 sec.)

View Transcript

Teacher:

Hi Lakisha, I’m Diane.

Mother:

Hi, nice to meet you.

Teacher:

Nice to meet you. And this must be Nikaia.

Mother:

Yes.

Teacher:

Hi Nikaia! Thank you both for welcoming me into your home!

Mother:

No problem. Come on in.

Teacher:

Coming from one program into ours do you have any particular concerns about making that change?

Mother:

My only concerns would be the same the same as they were when she entered the program she’s in now. And that would be safety and health, environmental and health safety and also making sure her needs are met throughout the day and her schedule is followed as properly as possible.

Teacher:

Right. Well in the nursery we pretty much cater the day around the needs of our individual infants.

Would it be alright if I held Nikaia?

Mother:

Sure. Gonna take you out. Go see Ms. Diane.

Teacher:

I’m anxious to see you. I see some neat toys over here. Would you like to see them with me?

Let me show you some pictures of our program in action. It’s been great getting to know you a little bit better Nikaia.

Mother:

You too.

Teacher:

As far as next steps as we get closer to the enrollment, I have this sheet to give you. Basically it has all of our team’s contact information on it and a brief biography of our teaching team, which is myself and Melissa. You’ll see this includes our daily schedule. You’ll have an opportunity to fill out this side so that we know the specific feeding routine and sleep routine that Nikaia is on when she arrives, and we do our best to follow everything according to Nikaia’s needs. Well as part of the transition plan we’ll be taking that information and having you fill out, in a little bit more detail, what her current therapy schedule is, who the therapists are,

Mother:

Well we look forward to transitioning in.

Teacher:

Right. We can’t wait to see you again Nikaia. Thanks so much.