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Illinois Early Learning Project

Illinois Early Learning Project

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  • Videos
    • Parenting Videos
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  • Standards & Guidelines
    • Illinois Early Learning Guidelines for Children Birth to Age 3
    • 2013 Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards
    • Illinois Learning Standards for Kindergarten
  • Project Approach
    • Project Guides
    • Project Examples
    • Lesson Planning in the Context of Projects
    • Project Approach Tip Sheets
    • Blog: Perspectives on the Project Approach
    • Project Approach Definitions
    • Project Approach Facebook Group
    • Related Project Approach Research
    • The Legacy of Lilian Katz
  • Blogs
    • Learning and Growing Together
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  • More Resources
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    • Questions and Answers (Q&A)
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Emotional Development

child and mother baking

Helping Young Children Understand Changing Holiday Traditions

Blogs, Learning and Growing Together
child drawing

Create a Positivity Jar

Learning at Home Activities
child in playhouse

Puppet Show

Learning at Home Activities
children writing

Writing Letters!

Learning at Home Activities
mother speaking to child

COVID-19 Parenting Pep Talk: Be With Your Child’s Big Feelings

Learning and Growing Together
children stacking toys

Returning to Early Childhood Programs During COVID-19

Tool Kits
mom coloring with child

COVID-19 Parenting Pep Talk: Make Time for Connection

Blogs, Learning and Growing Together
child playing with blocks

COVID-19 Parenting Pep Talk: (Re)focus on Positive Guidance

Blogs, Learning and Growing Together
dad and child playing with blocks

Helping Young Children With Disabilities During a Trying Time: Adding Structure and Routine

Blogs, Children with Disabilities and Developmental Delays
drawing of parent touching child's head

Positive Guidance for Young Children: Be Thoughtful

Graphic Tip Sheets, Infant/toddler Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets
little girl with teddy bear and blanket

Positive Guidance for Young Children: Take a Break and Calm Down

Graphic Tip Sheets, Infant/toddler Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets
parent talking with child

Positive Guidance for Young Children: Plan Ahead

Graphic Tip Sheets, Infant/toddler Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets
drawing of adult talking with child

Positive Guidance for Young Children: Be Consistent

Graphic Tip Sheets, Infant/toddler Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets
child hugging mother

The Impact of Trauma on the Lives of Young Children (Part 1)

Podcasts
boy painting at art table

Waiting to Paint

Benchmark Videos
baby crying

Social and Emotional Development

Illinois Early Learning Moments
Try and Try Again (audio)

Try and Try Again (audio)

Podcasts
Try and Try Again

Try and Try Again

Blogs, Learning and Growing Together
Feelings Are Fantastic (audio)

Feelings Are Fantastic (audio)

Podcasts
Young Children’s Mental Health

Young Children’s Mental Health

Resource Lists
Toddlers and Tantrums

Toddlers and Tantrums

Resource Lists
Imagination and Fantasy in Early Childhood

Imagination and Fantasy in Early Childhood

Resource Lists
Supporting Resilience in Children Exposed to Domestic Violence

Supporting Resilience in Children Exposed to Domestic Violence

Resource Lists
Handling Challenging Behaviors in Child Care: Aggression and Anger in Young Children

Handling Challenging Behaviors in Child Care: Aggression and Anger in Young Children

Resource Lists
Handling Challenging Behaviors in Child Care and at Home: Autism

Handling Challenging Behaviors in Child Care and at Home: Autism

Resource Lists
Project Work as a Context for Social Development

Project Work as a Context for Social Development

Blogs, Perspectives on the Project Approach
Feelings Are Fantastic (blog)

Feelings Are Fantastic (blog)

Blogs, Learning and Growing Together
Two Trains

Two Trains

Guidelines Videos
A Tower Together

A Tower Together

Guidelines Videos
Snack Time

Snack Time

Guidelines Videos
I Don't Like That

I Don’t Like That

Guidelines Videos
Blue or Purple

Blue or Purple

Guidelines Videos
A Big Tower

A Big Tower

Guidelines Videos
Papa and Wayne: A Simple Game With Baby

Papa and Wayne: A Simple Game With Baby

Parenting Videos
Tattoos and Teakettles: “Housekeeping” Conversations

Tattoos and Teakettles: “Housekeeping” Conversations

Benchmark Videos
“She Goes First”: Cooperative “Housekeeping” Play

“She Goes First”: Cooperative “Housekeeping” Play

Benchmark Videos
The Right Word: Conversation and Print During Pretend Play

The Right Word: Conversation and Print During Pretend Play

Benchmark Videos
Keep It Moving: Playing With Hoops

Keep It Moving: Playing With Hoops

Benchmark Videos
When Children Mourn

When Children Mourn

Tip Sheets
Supporting Adult-Child Relationships

Supporting Adult-Child Relationships

Graphic Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets
Feelings Are Fantastic

Feelings Are Fantastic

Graphic Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets
Helping Children Handle Disappointment

Helping Children Handle Disappointment

Tip Sheets
Children in Refugee Families Need Extra Care, Attention

Children in Refugee Families Need Extra Care, Attention

Blogs, Dual Language Learners
child in playhouse

Time to Play, Time to Dream: Unscheduling Your Child

Infant/toddler Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets
Please Don’t Go! Separation Anxiety and Children

Please Don’t Go! Separation Anxiety and Children

Infant/toddler Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets
Teachers Can Support Young Children’s Mental Health

Teachers Can Support Young Children’s Mental Health

Questions and Answers (Q&A)
IEL Tip Sheets: Family Fun!

IEL Tip Sheets: Family Fun!

Blogs, Children with Disabilities and Developmental Delays
Using Words to Discipline Children

Using Words to Discipline Children

Infant/toddler Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets
Say What You Mean! Talking Straight to Children

Say What You Mean! Talking Straight to Children

Tip Sheets
What Puppets Can Mean to Children, Part 2

What Puppets Can Mean to Children, Part 2

Blogs, Learning and Growing Together
Creating a Sense of Belonging in Preschool

Creating a Sense of Belonging in Preschool

Blogs, Children with Disabilities and Developmental Delays
Small Child, Big Stress?

Small Child, Big Stress?

Infant/toddler Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets
Kids Who Care

Kids Who Care

Infant/toddler Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets Aligned to Benchmarks
Drama and Young Children

Drama and Young Children

Infant/toddler Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets Aligned to Benchmarks
The Arts Lesson Addressing Benchmark 26.B.ECa

The Arts Lesson Addressing Benchmark 26.B.ECa

Adapting Lesson Plans to Meet IELDS Benchmarks
Physical Development and Health Lesson Addressing Benchmark 19.B.ECb

Physical Development and Health Lesson Addressing Benchmark 19.B.ECb

Adapting Lesson Plans to Meet IELDS Benchmarks
Science Lesson Addressing Benchmark 11.A.ECf

Science Lesson Addressing Benchmark 11.A.ECf

Adapting Lesson Plans to Meet IELDS Benchmarks
Language Arts Lesson Addressing Benchmark 2.B.ECa

Language Arts Lesson Addressing Benchmark 2.B.ECa

Adapting Lesson Plans to Meet IELDS Benchmarks
Dealing with Distraction

Dealing with Distraction

Infant/toddler Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets
Old Home, New Home, Our Home

Old Home, New Home, Our Home

Infant/toddler Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets
Freedom to Grow

Freedom to Grow

Tip Sheets
Supporting Young Children in Military Families

Supporting Young Children in Military Families

Questions and Answers (Q&A)
mother with baby

Is My Child OK?

Infant/toddler Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets
child with magnifying glass

The Curious Child

Infant/toddler Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets
small boy resting on arm

Take a Bold Approach to Shyness

Tip Sheets

About IEL

The Illinois Early Learning Project Web site is a source of evidence-based, reliable information on early care and education for parents, caregivers, and teachers of young children in Illinois.

Funded by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).

View IEL staff information, contact IEL online, or call (877) 275-3227.

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