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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 and Podcasts
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.
Podcasts
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
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
Blog: 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
Emotional Development
Playdates
Resource Lists
Emotional Development
Resource Lists
Helping Children with Big Feelings in the Classroom
Learning and Growing Together
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Blogs
Helping Children with Big Feelings
Learning and Growing Together
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Blogs
“I’m Missing My Friends!” Supporting Young Children’s Emotions During the Pandemic
Learning and Growing Together
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Blogs
Families, Social-Emotional Learning, and the Pandemic
Podcasts
Helping Young Children Understand Changing Holiday Traditions
Learning and Growing Together
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Blogs
Challenging Behaviors in Young Children
Tool Kits
COVID-19 Parenting Pep Talk: Be With Your Child’s Big Feelings
Learning and Growing Together
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Blogs
Returning to Early Childhood Programs During COVID-19
Tool Kits
COVID-19 Parenting Pep Talk: Make Time for Connection
Learning and Growing Together
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Blogs
COVID-19 Parenting Pep Talk: (Re)focus on Positive Guidance
Learning and Growing Together
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Blogs
Positive Guidance for Young Children: Be Thoughtful
All Tip Sheets
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Graphic Tip Sheets
Positive Guidance for Young Children: Take a Break and Calm Down
All Tip Sheets
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Graphic Tip Sheets
Positive Guidance for Young Children: Plan Ahead
All Tip Sheets
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Graphic Tip Sheets
Positive Guidance for Young Children: Be Consistent
All Tip Sheets
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Graphic Tip Sheets
The Impact of Trauma on the Lives of Young Children (Part 1)
Podcasts
Waiting to Paint
IELDS Resources
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Videos
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Benchmark Videos
Social and Emotional Development
Videos
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Early Learning Moments Videos
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IELG Resources
How Teachers Can Help When a Child Says, “Mommy, I Don’t Want to Go to Preschool!”
Learning and Growing Together
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Blogs
Try and Try Again
Learning and Growing Together
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Blogs
Young Children’s Mental Health
Resource Lists
Toddlers and Tantrums
Resource Lists
Imagination and Fantasy in Early Childhood
Resource Lists
Supporting Resilience in Children Exposed to Domestic Violence
Resource Lists
Supporting Young Children with Challenging Behaviors
Resource Lists
Project Work as a Context for Social Development
Perspectives on the Project Approach
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Blogs
Feelings Are Fantastic (blog)
Learning and Growing Together
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Blogs
Two Trains
Videos
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Guidelines Videos
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IELG Resources
A Tower Together
Videos
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Guidelines Videos
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IELG Resources
Snack Time
Videos
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Guidelines Videos
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IELG Resources
I Don’t Like That
Videos
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Guidelines Videos
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IELG Resources
Blue or Purple
IELG Resources
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Videos
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Guidelines Videos
A Big Tower
Videos
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Guidelines Videos
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IELG Resources
Tattoos and Teakettles: “Housekeeping” Conversations
Videos
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Benchmark Videos
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IELDS Resources
The Right Word: Conversation and Print During Pretend Play
Videos
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Benchmark Videos
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IELDS Resources
Keep It Moving: Playing With Hoops
IELDS Resources
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Videos
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Benchmark Videos
When Children Mourn
All Tip Sheets
Supporting Adult-Child Relationships
All Tip Sheets
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Graphic Tip Sheets
Feelings Are Fantastic
All Tip Sheets
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Graphic Tip Sheets
Helping Children Handle Disappointment
All Tip Sheets
Children in Refugee Families Need Extra Care, Attention
Culturally Responsive Practices
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Blogs
Time to Play, Time to Dream: Unscheduling Your Child
All Tip Sheets
Please Don’t Go! Separation Anxiety and Children
All Tip Sheets
Teachers Can Support Young Children’s Mental Health
Questions and Answers (Q&A)
Using Words to Discipline Children
All Tip Sheets
Say What You Mean! Talking Straight to Children
All Tip Sheets
What Puppets Can Mean to Children, Part 2
Learning and Growing Together
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Blogs
Creating a Sense of Belonging in Preschool
Children with Disabilities and Developmental Delays
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Blogs
Small Child, Big Stress?
All Tip Sheets
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