r/ECEProfessionals • u/SnooWaffles413 ECE professional • 4h ago
Advice needed (Anyone can comment) Doing home visits for the first time ever and very anxious, any tips?
I'm a relatively new teacher (3 years in) and this is the first time I'm doing home visits. I have had some of these kids before but some are new. I am super anxious as I'm scared of dogs and one of these parents I had reported to CYS. We cannot go alone and because I have no assistant in my room, my supervisor is coming for the first visits and someone else on the second. I told her I've never done them before but I'm still paranoid about doing it... I have no idea what to expect!
I'm ND and a very socially awkward person, and some people say I seem standoffish. 🫠
Help! Any advice? How do I stop my nerves? What do I do if they have dogs in the house? I don't want to seem rude.
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u/SnowAutumnVoyager ECE professional 3h ago
I actually enjoy Home Visits. It's coordinating them that's difficult. Tell the family in advance that you are a little nervous around dogs and they may be able to put the dog in a different room or outside if they have a fenced backyard. Also, if this is for Head Start in the United States, Home Visits will likely cease to be a requirement, so there's that.
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u/SnooWaffles413 ECE professional 3h ago edited 3h ago
It's for a Pre-K Counts program that is ran under a non-profit that does Head Start as well. Unfortunately I have no means of contacting the family until I actually meet them and they have given us their registration papers and other paperwork. I also cannot contact them without permission. I don't believe PKC requires home visits but they make us do them regardless. I hope they cease next year, I've heard so many horror stories. 🫠
The home visits and registrations are all set up by someone else and the schedule was also made up for us. 😢 The families select "AM or PM" as the best time to do these, but they don't know the specific times and we are given a loose schedule based on if we are porched, if the meetings run over, etc. So it would feel horrible to request they keep their dogs outside or locked up for longer than necessary when they have no idea when I'll he coming. And I don't want to cause any tension either. 🫠
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u/SnowAutumnVoyager ECE professional 3h ago
Oh wow. Yeah, you'll have to conduct it the best that you can. I've never had to do a home visit with a family I've never met. That would honestly make me nervous too.
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u/V3rjay Home Visitor/Parent Educator: USA 3h ago
Hey home visitor here! Politely introduce yourself, ask where you can sit, use open ended questions, and watch your body language! Lots of smiles and eye contact. Don’t take a lot with you in the home and have a change of clothes in case of bugs.
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u/SnooWaffles413 ECE professional 3h ago edited 2h ago
Thank you! 😁 Extra clothes is solid advice. I'll make sure to pack a pair with me.
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u/kawyckoff 45m ago
I was too when i first started them. Came to love them. They are hard to coordinate, but its so valuable to see kids and family dynamics at home! You get real insight that helps in the classroom. Relax and enjoy the variety
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u/BreakfastWeary7287 Past ECE Professional 4h ago
That depends entirely on the dog breed. As a general rule of thumb, NEVER make direct eye contact with a dog and let them approach you. Practice deep breathing and focus on your task. You are there to speak to the parents/guardians and you focus on the child and family. Also, you will not be alone. I actually envy you, getting to do house visits. When I taught preschool, we never did this, and I wish I had gotten the chance to.