Early Childhood Playdate
An Important Step in Building Our Early Childhood Classrooms
What is the Early Childhood Playdate?
We are excited to welcome both new and returning Early Childhood students and their parents to our annual Early Childhood Playdate!
August 3, 2026 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
This special event gives enrolled children an opportunity to play, explore, and interact with one another in a relaxed and familiar environment before the school year begins. While the morning is designed to be fun for our new and returning students, it also serves an important purpose in helping our faculty thoughtfully create balanced and successful classrooms for the coming year.
Please direct all questions to: admissions@waldorfdupage.org
What to Expect
Children will be playing freely with their peers outdoors.
Parents are considered the primary caregiver of their child during this event, please guide your child to be safe.
Teachers will be alternating between observing the children and speaking with parents.
How to Prepare
Bring filled water bottles for yourself and your child.
Dress for the weather. It’s typically hot and muggy in August. Unless there is very heavy rain, we plan to be outdoors.
Bring filled water bottles for yourself and your child.
Apply sunscreen and bug spray prior to arrival.
Why Is Attendance Important?
During the playdate, our Early Childhood teachers observe children as they engage with peers through play and social interactions. These observations help us gain valuable insight into each child's:
Personality and temperament
Social interactions and friendships
Play style and interests
Communication skills
Individual learning and support needs
By seeing all students together, faculty can make informed decisions that support the needs of every child and create classroom communities where students can thrive.
How Are Class Placements Determined?
Class placements are carefully considered by our Early Childhood faculty. Our goal is to create two balanced classrooms that support the academic, social, and emotional growth of all students.
Teachers consider a variety of factors, including:
Student personalities and social dynamics
Learning and developmental needs
Peer relationships
Classroom balance and overall group composition
No single factor determines placement. Instead, our team works collaboratively to create the best possible learning environment for every child.
A Note for Returning Families
We understand that many families wonder whether their child will remain with the same teacher or classmates from the previous year.
While it is certainly possible that some students may be placed in the same classroom as before, this is not guaranteed. Our priority is to thoughtfully balance both classrooms based on the needs of the entire Early Childhood community for the current school year.
We appreciate your trust in our faculty's professional judgment as we work to create classroom placements that support all students' success.