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Home Visits Explained

  • Jenny Woods
  • Jun 13
  • 2 min read

In Waldorf education, the relationship between teacher, child and family is at the heart of the learning journey. One beautiful and meaningful tradition that supports this connection at Camellia Waldorf School is the home visit. Whether it’s a child entering preschool, kindergarten or joining a new class in the grades, home visits offer a chance to build trust, connection and a sense of belonging before the school year even begins.


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For young children, entering a new classroom can feel both exciting and uncertain. A home visit offers a gentle introduction, one in which the teacher meets the child on familiar ground, where they feel most safe and seen. In this way, the teacher is not a stranger on the first day of school, but someone who has shared a little piece of the child’s world: met their dog, admired a favorite rock collection, saw a special toy or sat at the kitchen table to share a cup of tea. This moment of connection becomes a bridge into the school year, helping the child feel known and more at ease in the classroom.


Waldorf teachers often stay with their students for several years, sometimes even from 1st through 8th grade. This long-term journey means the teacher becomes deeply invested not only in the academic growth of each child but in their social, emotional and developmental path. Home visits deepen the relationship between the teacher and family, creating space for open conversation, trust and an understanding that extends beyond parent-teacher conferences.


Waldorf education is rooted in educating the whole child - head, heart and hands. Home visits allow teachers to observe a child in their natural family life, offering insight into who they are outside of school. This helps the teacher more fully understand how to support each child’s unique temperament, strengths and needs. It’s not about assessing or evaluating, it’s about relationship and reverence.


Perhaps most importantly, home visits help form a circle of trust between family and school. When a teacher steps into a family’s home with warmth, openness and respect, it affirms the school’s role not just as an educational institution, but as an extension of the family’s care for their child. It sends a message: We see you. We value you. We’re in this together.


In Waldorf education, we don’t just welcome children into our classrooms; we welcome families into our community. Home visits are one of the many ways we strive to honor that relationship and begin each school year with intention, warmth and a sense of shared purpose.



 
 
 

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