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Illinois Early Learning Project

Illinois Early Learning Project

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  • Tip Sheets
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  • Videos
    • Parenting Videos
    • Illinois Early Learning Moments
    • Guidelines Videos
    • Benchmark Videos
    • Webinars
  • 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
    • Dual Language Learners
    • Children with Disabilities and Developmental Delays
    • Perspectives on the Project Approach
  • More Resources
    • IEL Newsletter
    • Podcasts
    • Learning at Home Activities
    • Resource Lists
    • Resources by Topic or Keyword
    • Questions and Answers (Q&A)
    • Tool Kits
    • View all

Play

two boys with bubbles

Car Wash!

Learning at Home Activities
drawing of parent touching child's head

Capture the Flag

Learning at Home Activities
drawing of child with magnifying glass

Treasure Hunt!

Learning at Home Activities
Keep Young Children Learning at Home During Trying Times

Keep Young Children Learning at Home During Trying Times

Blogs, Learning and Growing Together
parents watch child play with toy

Learning at Home During Trying Times

Resource Lists
boy at sensory table

Exploring the Sensory Table

Benchmark Videos
child carrying blue tub

The Blue Bowl

Benchmark Videos
child playing with blocks

Busy with Blocks (audio)

Podcasts
teacher helping student at table

Maybe We Can Make a Road!

Benchmark Videos
Pass the Ball Versus Pass the Remote: Supporting Preschoolers’ Physical Activity

Pass the Ball Versus Pass the Remote: Supporting Preschoolers’ Physical Activity

Blogs, Children with Disabilities and Developmental Delays
child using a drum

Drumming in the Kitchen

Parenting Videos
Five Things Children Gain from Puzzle Play

Five Things Children Gain from Puzzle Play

Blogs, Learning and Growing Together
Helping Young Children Develop Friendships

Helping Young Children Develop Friendships

Resource Lists
Imagination and Fantasy in Early Childhood

Imagination and Fantasy in Early Childhood

Resource Lists
Children's Play - More than Fun and Games

Children’s Play – More than Fun and Games

Resource Lists
Tech Time! Video Games and Young Children with Special Needs

Tech Time! Video Games and Young Children with Special Needs

Blogs, Children with Disabilities and Developmental Delays
All About Gardens

All About Gardens

Project Approach, Project Guides
You Made It

You Made It

Guidelines Videos
Let’s Get Up

Let’s Get Up

Guidelines Videos
A Big Tower

A Big Tower

Guidelines Videos
Toddlers and Boxes: “Hi! Hi!"

Toddlers and Boxes: “Hi! Hi!”

Parenting Videos
Papa and Wayne: A Simple Game With Baby

Papa and Wayne: A Simple Game With Baby

Parenting Videos
Let Baby Play

Let Baby Play

Parenting Videos
Going Camping

Going Camping

Parenting Videos
The Doggie and the Shark

The Doggie and the Shark

Parenting Videos
Building with Boxes

Building with Boxes

Parenting Videos
Learning to Get Along with Friends

Learning to Get Along with Friends

Blogs, Children with Disabilities and Developmental Delays
Two on a Trike

Two on a Trike

Benchmark Videos
One Morning in the Block Area

One Morning in the Block Area

Benchmark Videos
Experimenting with Balance

Experimenting with Balance

Benchmark Videos
Explaining Cradle Construction

Explaining Cradle Construction

Benchmark Videos
Climbing a Tree

Climbing a Tree

Benchmark Videos
Cherishing Children’s Treasures Can Create Many Opportunities to Learn

Cherishing Children’s Treasures Can Create Many Opportunities to Learn

Blogs, Learning and Growing Together
child in playhouse

Time to Play, Time to Dream: Unscheduling Your Child

Infant/toddler Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets
children on playground

Young Children Need to Play!

Infant/toddler Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets
Boy dressed in a cape holding a broom with cooking pot on his head and holding the pot’s lid in his other hand like a shield

Play With Your Toddler—Indoors

Graphic Tip Sheets, Infant/toddler Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets
“Mud-Luscious”: Some Thoughts on Messy Play

“Mud-Luscious”: Some Thoughts on Messy Play

Blogs, Learning and Growing Together
Active Play Promotes Young Children’s Development

Active Play Promotes Young Children’s Development

Blogs, Dual Language Learners
What Puppets Can Mean to Children, Part 2

What Puppets Can Mean to Children, Part 2

Blogs, Learning and Growing Together
Age-Appropriate Play for Young Children

Age-Appropriate Play for Young Children

Questions and Answers (Q&A)
children on playground

Making a Case for Play Around the World

Blogs, Learning and Growing Together
Answering Questions About Your Child’s Special Needs

Answering Questions About Your Child’s Special Needs

Blogs, Children with Disabilities and Developmental Delays
chlid playing with box

Science Play with an Award-winning Toy

Blogs, Learning and Growing Together
children playing with blocks

Make Room for Blocks!

Infant/toddler Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets Aligned to Benchmarks
Games for All Young Children

Games for All Young Children

Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets Aligned to Benchmarks
chlid playing with box

Toys from Throwaways: Boxes

Infant/toddler Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets, Tip Sheets Aligned to Benchmarks
number toys

Learning Math Through Games

Blogs, Learning and Growing Together
Organized Sports and Young Children

Organized Sports and Young Children

Tip Sheets
What Makes a Good Toy?

What Makes a Good Toy?

Infant/toddler Tip Sheets, 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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