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Tip Sheets
All Tip Sheets
All Tip Sheets are available in English and Spanish (español). Most Tip Sheets are available in Polish (Polski). Selected Tip Sheets are available in Korean (한국어), Chinese (中文 (中国), Arabic (العربية), Russian (Русский) and French (Français). IEL Tip Sheets are easy-to-read, one-page resources on a variety of topics of interest to parents and teachers of young children. You can also search Tip Sheets by Topic.
Graphic Tip Sheets
Graphic Tip Sheets are meant for busy families. Put them on your refrigerator, corkboards, or other common household areas as quick reminders of important activities you can enjoy with your family.
Tip Sheets by Keyword
Tip Sheets by Series
PDF Collections
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Videos & Podcast
Parenting Videos
These videos show some family activities that help infants, toddlers, and preschool-age children learn about the world. For each video we provide some background information, a transcript, and a list of resources about the topic.
Early Learning Moments Videos
The Illinois Early Learning Moments have been developed to assist infant/toddler care providers in implementing the strategies for interaction outlined in the Illinois Early Learning Guidelines for Children Birth to Age Three (IELGs). Each Early Learning Moment includes a video, information about the area being covered, suggestions for creating an environment to support children’s development, and a series of questions to help you assess whether your everyday environment and interactions support the development of the children under your care.
Guidelines Videos
These videos were filmed in various child care settings. For each video, we provide some brief background information, a transcript, and a description of strategies teachers or caregivers used to help children meet standards in the Illinois Early Learning Guidelines for Children Birth to Age 3. Having promised parents and the child care center that the children’s identities would remain anonymous, IEL has dubbed out any mentions of the children’s names in these videos. In the transcript and the introduction to the videos, we have inserted pseudonyms for the children.
Benchmark Videos
These videos were filmed in a variety of settings, including programs at public universities, community colleges, and private homes. For each video, we provide background information, a transcript, and a description of how various 2013 Illinois Early Learning and Development benchmarks are met.
Podcast
Podcasts are a great way to explore early childhood education topics on the go. The Illinois Early Learning Project will continue to add new audio content that can be streamed or downloaded to your device.
Standards & Guidelines
Illinois Early Learning Guidelines for Children Birth to Age 3
IELG Resources
2013 Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards
IELDS Resources
Illinois Learning Standards for Kindergarten
Kindergarten Standards Resources and KIDS Assessment
Blogs
Children with Disabilities and Developmental Delays
Increasingly, children with developmental delays or disabilities attend child care or preschool programs where teachers may have limited information about how to include a child with special needs. Parents who have a child with special needs also may want to know more about adapting family activities to more fully include the child. View more blogs.
Culturally Responsive Practices
An increasing population of children entering child care or preschool who speak a home language other than English. This blog is intended to help parents and teachers support these children as they learn English and their home languages. View more blogs.
Learning and Growing Together
Children grow and develop rapidly in the first five years of life. Every day routines and playtimes provide rich opportunities for young children to learn. This blog explores practical and enjoyable ways that caregivers, families, and teachers can help children learn as they play and explore their world. View more blogs.
Perspectives on the Project Approach
View blogs by Lilian Katz, Sallee Beneke, or practicing early childhood directors. View more IEL blogs.
Learn More
Learning at Home Activities
Questions and Answers (Q&A)
The IEL staff has prepared a series of questions (and their answers!) on topics in early learning.
Resource Lists
These Resource Lists are related to popular topics and contain a wealth of information on early care and education.
Tool Kits
Our tool kits are designed to assist teachers and caregivers in their work with young children. The resources have been created as starting points for developing materials that address the individual needs of the children and families in their programs.
Faculty Resources
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Project Approach
Illinois Educators are invited to submit simple documentation of project work from their classrooms. IEL staff will help edit and publish your project! By sharing documentation of their experiences implementing the Project Approach, Illinois teachers can help each other learn new strategies and ideas for implementation.
Project Examples
Illinois Educators are invited to submit simple documentation of project work from their classrooms. IEL staff will help edit and publish your project! By sharing documentation of their experiences implementing the Project Approach, Illinois teachers can help each other learn new strategies and ideas for implementation.
Project Approach Tip Sheets
Perspectives on the Project Approach
View the most recent blog postings. View blogs by Lilian Katz, Sallee Beneke, or practicing early childhood directors.
Project Approach Resources
Search IEL Resources
Tip Sheets by Keyword
These are larger collections of tip sheets by keyword.
Select a keyword below:
Keyword
All
Adult Child Relationships
Advocacy
Allergies
Anger
Approaches to Learning
Art
Assessment
Asthma
Attachment
Attendance
Autism and Neurodiversity
Blocks
Challenging Behavior and Positive Guidance
Child Abuse Prevention
Child Care Regulations
Child Development
Choosing Child Care
Cognitive Development
Communication and Speech
Creativity
Culturally Responsive Practices
Curiosity and Initiative
Dance and Movement
Dental Health
Developmental Delay and Disability
Diversity
Divorce and Separation
Documentation
Drama
Early Literacy
Environmental Quality
Executive Function
Family Activities
Fine Motor
Friendships
Gardening
Geography
Gross Motor
Health and Hygiene
Hearing
Homelessness and Housing Insecurity
Immunizations
Inclusive Settings
Kindergarten
Language Arts
Lesson and Activity Planning
LGBTQ+
Mathematics
Mental Health
Multilingual Early Learners
Music
Native American
Nutrition
Outdoor Activities
Parent and Family Involvement
Parent Teacher Relationships
Peer Relationships
Personal Care
Pets
Phonics
Physical Development
Play
Praise and Encouragement
Problem Solving
Professional Development
Project Approach
Reading to Children
Recommended Books
Recycling
Reggio Emilia Approach
Routines and Transitions
Safety
Science
Self Concept
Self-Regulation
Separation Anxiety
Siblings
Sleep
Social and Emotional Development
Social Studies
Special Education
STEAM
Stress and Trauma
Technology
Toilet Learning
Toys
Vision
Writing
Additions to the Family: Help Young Children Prepare
Asthma: Easing the Wheezing
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
Becoming a Young Self-Advocate
Behavior Is Communication
Body Curiosity: Head, Shoulders, Knees, and More
Building Endurance: Let’s Get Physical!
Bullying Hurts Everyone
Children’s Social Competence Checklist
Children’s Votes Count
Choosing Child Care for Infants and Toddlers
Collaborating with Interpreters and Families
Communicating With Your Baby Through Sign
Conference Time! Talking to Your Child’s Teacher or Caregiver
Connecting with Parents: “But He Doesn’t Do That at Home”
Cooperation in the Preschool Classroom: Class Discussions
Counting Up, Down, and All Around
Creating Social Stories for Young Children
CSI: Child Scientist Investigates!
Curriculum Adaptations: Six Simple Strategies
Dealing with Ableism in Early Childhood Settings
Dealing with Distraction
Dealing with Parental Guilt
Dental Health for Babies and Young Children
Dining Away from Home with Young Children
Discover Letters and Words
Discover Shapes in Many Places
Do You Hear What I Hear?
Drama and Young Children
Early Relational Health: Building Strong Bonds with Children
Ease Those First-Day Blues
Eating Right = Healthy Children
Encouraging Child-to-Child Conversation
Encouraging Scientific Thinking: Rain or Shine
Encouraging Words
Engaging Every Child
Eyes Right! Find Amblyopia Early
Eyes Right! Your Child’s Vision
Family Friendly Meetings
Feelings Are Fantastic
Fight Germs! Wash Your Hands!
Five Tips on Choosing a Preschool
Food Allergy Awareness
Free Time: Building a Family Schedule with Room for Play
Freedom to Grow
Fun at Home with Preschoolers: Getting Ready to Read!
Fun at Home with Preschoolers: Let’s Measure!
Fun at Home with Preschoolers: Play with Light and Shadow
Fuss Management: Comforting the Irritable Child
Fuss Management: Planning Ahead to Prevent Tantrums
Games for All Young Children
Get Growing: From Seeds to Sprouts
Get Growing: Learning about Seeds
Get Growing: Planning a Garden with Young Children
Get Growing: Planters and Preschoolers
Get Ready to Read
Get Them to School Every Day
Getting Ready for Kindergarten
Getting Ready to Read and Write in Childcare
Going to Kindergarten?
Healthy Children Eat Right
Helpful Signs to do with Babies
Helping Children Develop “Impulse Control”
Helping Children Handle Disappointment
Helping Children Learn to Get Along
Helping Preschoolers Learn in Two Languages
Helping Siblings Get Along
Helping Your Child Learn in Two Languages
Inclusion in Preschool Classrooms
Instructional Strategies for Students with Visual Impairments
Investigate Together
It Takes Money: Economics for Preschoolers
Keep Up the Good Work
Keep Young Children Safe in the Car
Keeping Track of Important Information
Kids Who Care
Learning and Fun on Family Field Trips
Learning by Listening to Language
Let’s Talk About … Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Let’s Talk About … Race, Ethnicity, and Young Children
Let’s Talk About … Young Children and Family Structures
Let’s Talk About … Young Children and Religious Diversity
Let’s Talk About … Young Children with Disabilities and Their Families
Let’s Talk About … Young Dual Language Learners and Their Families
Lice Aren’t Nice!
Literacy across the Preschool Curriculum
Make Room for Blocks!
Making and Keeping Friends
Making Sense of Numbers
Making the Holidays Memorable and Meaningful
Manners and Preschoolers
Math Sense: Learning about Coins
Multitiered System of Supports (MTSS): Understanding the Basics
Natural Illinois: Birds
Natural Illinois: Butterflies and Moths
Natural Illinois: Frogs and Toads
Natural Illinois: Insects
Natural Illinois: Leaves Are All Around
Natural Illinois: Mammals
Natural Illinois: Rock On!
Natural Illinois: The Trees You See
Neighborhood Geography with Young Children
No More Diapers: Getting Started
No More Diapers: Is Your Child Ready?
Noticing Signs of Voting in our Community
Object and Visual Schedules
Observing Your Child in Preschool
Old Home, New Home, Our Home
Organized Sports and Young Children
Out and About with Preschoolers: Close Up with Visual Arts
Out and About with Preschoolers: Dancing on the Sidewalk
Out and About with Preschoolers: Literacy Activities
Out and About with Preschoolers: Make Some Music
Out and About with Preschoolers: Science in the “Built Environment”
Out and About with Preschoolers: Sunshine Science
Out and About with Preschoolers: The Places You’ll Go!
Out and About with Preschoolers: Visual Arts for Everyone
Outdoor Field Trips with Preschoolers: Being There!
Outdoor Field Trips with Preschoolers: Deciding Where to Go
Outdoor Field Trips with Preschoolers: Follow Up!
Outdoor Field Trips with Preschoolers: Planning Ahead
Outdoor Field Trips with Preschoolers: Preparing with the Children
Outdoor Play: Weather or Not
Partnering with Co-Parenting Families
Path to Math: Beginning Numbers
Path to Math: Classification
Path to Math: Geometric Thinking for Young Children
Path to Math: Measurement with Young Children
Path to Math: More Numbers
Path to Math: More Word Problems for Preschoolers
Path to Math: Real Graphs for Preschoolers
Path to Math: Word Problems for Preschoolers
Pets and Young Children
Physical Fitness for Preschool-Age Children
Physical Fitness for Toddlers
Play and Self-Regulation in Preschool
Play Right—Don’t Bite!
Play With Your Toddler—Indoors
Playground Physics: Hang in There!
Playground Physics: On a Roll!
Playground Physics: Watch for Falling Objects!
Please Don’t Go. Separation Anxiety and Children
Positive Guidance for Young Children: Be Consistent
Positive Guidance for Young Children: Be Thoughtful
Positive Guidance for Young Children: Plan Ahead
Positive Guidance for Young Children: Take a Break and Calm Down
Precoding Activities for Preschoolers
Precoding for Preschoolers
Predicting: Helping Preschoolers Look Ahead
Preventing Lead Poisoning in Children
Project Approach for Preschoolers
Project Approach: Anticipating What Children Might Learn
Project Approach: Children Taking Surveys
Project Approach: Helping Children Ask Questions
Project Approach: Helping Preschoolers Represent What They Learn
Project Approach: Including Every Child
Project Approach: Phase 1—Choosing a Topic to Investigate
Project Approach: Phase 1—Getting Started
Project Approach: Phase 2—Doing Fieldwork
Project Approach: Phase 2—Getting Ready for Fieldwork
Project Approach: Phase 3—Concluding the Project
Protecting Children from Preventable Disease
Read and Write Together
Read with Your Toddler
Real Work: Preschoolers Can Help
Remember When …
Represent and Celebrate Diversity in Your Classroom Library
Rights of Families Experiencing Homelessness
Say What You Mean: Speaking Directly to Children
Say Yes to Healthy Snacks!
Say Yes to the Mess! Play with Rocks
Say Yes to the Mess! Snow Time
Say Yes to the Mess! Water Works
School Safety Drills
Secure Attachments in Young Children
Sensory-Friendly Events
Sharing Books with Your Baby
Sharing Books with Your Preschooler
Sharing Books with Your Toddler
SIDS: Back to Sleep
Sing, Play, and Hear: Music’s in the Air
Small Child, Big Stress?
Sorting, Classifying, and Organizing
Special Education Assessment for Preschool-Aged Children: Participating in the Assessment
Special Education Assessment for Preschool-Aged Children: Referral and Getting Started
Special Education Assessment for Preschool-Aged Children: Reviewing Results and Next Steps
Starting Kindergarten? Help Make It a Good Experience!
Strangers and Safety
Strategies for Children Lost or Separated from Their Caregivers
Structure and Routines in Everyday Living
Supporting Adult-Child Relationships
Supporting Children with Limited Verbal Skills
Swim Lessons for Young Children
Swimming for the Ages
Take a Bold Approach to Shyness
Talk Together
Talk, Listen, and Learn
Talking to Your Child’s Teacher
Tattling Behavior in Preschool
Teaching Multilingual Early Learners
Tearless Transitions
Tech Time for Infants and Toddlers
Tech Time for Young Children
The Curious Child
The Gift of Words: Conversation and Routines
The Gift of Words: Reading and Games
The Power of the Pen: Drawing and Scribbling
The Power of the Pen: Let Children Choose Writing Centers!
They Said “No” … Now What?
Things Change
Things to Do While You’re Waiting: Art Is All Around
Things to Do While You’re Waiting: Art Works!
Things to Do While You’re Waiting: Curious Young Scientists
Things to Do While You’re Waiting: Get Physical
Things to Do While You’re Waiting: Language and Literacy
Things to Do While You’re Waiting: Learning Activity Kits
Things to Do While You’re Waiting: Math
Things to Do While You’re Waiting: Math Is Everywhere
Things to Do While You’re Waiting: Music and Movement
Things to Do While You’re Waiting: Music, Sound, and Movement
Things to Do While You’re Waiting: Physical Activities
Things to Do While You’re Waiting: Science
Things We Need: Economics for Preschoolers
Time for Preschoolers: Duration
Time for Preschoolers: In Sequence
Too Sick to Go to Child Care?
Toys from Throwaways: Boxes
Toys from Throwaways: Let’s Recycle!
Trauma-Informed Care in the Classroom
Understanding Trauma and Young Children
Using Predictable Books with Young Children
Using Words to Provide Positive Guidance
What Is “Reggio Emilia Inspired”?
What Is an IEP?
What Is Assessment?
What Is Developmental Screening?
What Makes a Good Toy?
What’s Next? Predictions at Story Time
When Children Mourn
When Should I Send a Sick Child Home?
When the Teacher Calls…
Where Are We? Maps and Young Children
Who Are the People in Your Neighborhood?
Who’s the Leader?
Work and Play Together
Young Authors at Work: Literature Response Journals
Young Authors at Work: Story Dictations
Young Children Need to Play!
Young Children’s Mental Health: What Is Essential?
Your Child’s First Day in Preschool
ZZZs, Please! Bedtime for Preschoolers
