ABSTRACT
Steiner Waldorf teachers are committed to establishing good relationships with parents and building the bridge between home and school, as the importance of a happy, smooth transition from home to school is recognised. The majority of kindergartens holds baby groups and/or parent and child sessions and has a good rapport with the family before the child enters kindergarten. The teacher and assistant usually do a home visit during the first term, which is an opportunity to develop a closer relationship with the child. Regular parent evenings, with a themed talk and activity, provide an opportunity for parents to meet on a social basis. Most kindergartens begin with a baby group or parent and child group, which is where the children and parents are introduced to the ethos of the pedagogy. The making of simple crafts helps the parents to recognise skills and to bring some of these into their home, such as baking bread, painting and drawing.
