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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
Search IEL Resources
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
Social and Emotional Development
Strengthening Responsive Interactions Through Serve and Return
Learning and Growing Together
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Blogs
Cozy Corners in the Classroom
Podcast
Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Services
Learning and Growing Together
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Blogs
Becoming a Young Self-Advocate
All Tip Sheets
Behavior Is Communication
All Tip Sheets
Manners and Young Children
Resource Lists
What is the Pyramid Model?
Podcast
They Said “No” … Now What?
All Tip Sheets
Trauma-Informed and Responsive (TIR) Early Childhood Programs
Questions and Answers (Q&A)
Playdates
Resource Lists
Emotional Development
Resource Lists
Meetups for Preschoolers: Have a Great Playdate!
Learning and Growing Together
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Blogs
Making and Keeping Friends for Young Children with and without Disabilities
Podcast
Rearview Mirror
Project Approach
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Project Approach Resources
Friendships for Young Children
Tool Kits
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
Families, Social-Emotional Learning, and the Pandemic
Podcast
Play
Tool Kits
Challenging Behaviors in Young Children
Tool Kits
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
Graphic Tip Sheets
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All 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
Supporting Children with the Characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Preschool Classrooms
Podcast
The Impact of Trauma on the Lives of Young Children (Part 1)
Podcast
Exploring the Sensory Table
IELDS Resources
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Videos
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Benchmark Videos
Waiting to Paint
IELDS Resources
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Videos
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Benchmark Videos
The Blue Bowl
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
Are You Being a Monkey?
Videos
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IELDS Resources
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Benchmark Videos
‘Look at Your Lines!’
IELDS Resources
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Videos
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Benchmark Videos
You’ve Got Blue Hands
Videos
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Benchmark Videos
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IELDS Resources
Looks Swampy
IELDS Resources
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Videos
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Benchmark Videos
What Can You Tell Me Baby?
Videos
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Parenting Videos
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
Retelling “Caps for Sale”
IELDS Resources
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Videos
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Benchmark Videos
Try and Try Again
Learning and Growing Together
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Blogs
Supporting Young Children’s Friendships: An Interview with Dr. Michaelene Ostrosky
Podcast
Helping the Shy Ones
Learning and Growing Together
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Blogs
Young Children’s Mental Health
Resource Lists
Helping Young Children Develop Friendships
Resource Lists
Toddlers and Tantrums
Resource Lists
Supporting Children’s Social Development: Strategies for Parents and Caregivers
Resource Lists
Imagination and Fantasy in Early Childhood
Resource Lists
Sibling Relationships
Resource Lists
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
IELG Resources
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Videos
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Guidelines Videos
Blue or Purple
Guidelines Videos
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IELG Resources
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Videos
A Big Tower
Videos
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Guidelines Videos
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IELG Resources
Waylon and Grandpa: A Continuous Contingent Interaction
Videos
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Parenting Videos
Dual Language Use During Choice Time
IELDS Resources
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Videos
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Benchmark Videos
Learning to Get Along with Friends
Children with Disabilities and Developmental Delays
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Blogs
What’s in the Box
Videos
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Benchmark Videos
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IELDS Resources
Two on a Trike
IELDS Resources
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Videos
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Benchmark Videos
Transitioning
Benchmark Videos
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IELDS Resources
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Videos
Tattoos and Teakettles: “Housekeeping” Conversations
IELDS Resources
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Videos
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Benchmark Videos
Straw Painting
IELDS Resources
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Videos
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Benchmark Videos
“She Goes First”: Cooperative “Housekeeping” Play
Videos
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IELDS Resources
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Benchmark Videos
Shaving Cream
IELDS Resources
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Videos
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Benchmark Videos
Sara Measures
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
Please Pass the Water
Videos
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Benchmark Videos
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IELDS Resources
One Morning in the Block Area
Videos
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Benchmark Videos
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IELDS Resources
One Morning at the Construction Table
IELDS Resources
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Videos
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Benchmark Videos
Observing Chickens on the Playground
Videos
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Benchmark Videos
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IELDS Resources
Mozart Jazz Freight Train
IELDS Resources
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Videos
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Benchmark Videos
Mila Sticks With Art
IELDS Resources
,
Videos
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Benchmark Videos
Mila Paints the Fence
IELDS Resources
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Videos
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Benchmark Videos
Magnets and Cars
IELDS Resources
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Videos
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Benchmark Videos
Learning about a Stethoscope
Videos
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Benchmark Videos
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IELDS Resources
Keep It Moving: Playing With Hoops
Videos
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Benchmark Videos
,
IELDS Resources
Ideas about a Marble Run
IELDS Resources
,
Videos
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Benchmark Videos
Getting to Know Rabbits
IELDS Resources
,
Videos
,
Benchmark Videos
Flubber
IELDS Resources
,
Videos
,
Benchmark Videos
Exploring Windshield Wipers
Videos
,
Benchmark Videos
,
IELDS Resources
Exploring Trees on the Playground
IELDS Resources
,
Videos
,
Benchmark Videos
Exploring Sound on the Dam
IELDS Resources
,
Videos
,
Benchmark Videos
Explaining Cradle Construction
IELDS Resources
,
Videos
,
Benchmark Videos
An Engineer Changes His Mind
Videos
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Benchmark Videos
,
IELDS Resources
Drawing a Friend
IELDS Resources
,
Videos
,
Benchmark Videos
Counting Crackers
IELDS Resources
,
Videos
,
Benchmark Videos
Constructing a Cradle
Videos
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Benchmark Videos
,
IELDS Resources
Climbing a Tree
Videos
,
Benchmark Videos
,
IELDS Resources
Bouncing Balls
Videos
,
Benchmark Videos
,
IELDS Resources
Bethany Draws a Wheel
Videos
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Benchmark Videos
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IELDS Resources
Children’s Social Competence Checklist
All Tip Sheets
Bullying Hurts Everyone
All Tip Sheets
When Children Mourn
All Tip Sheets
Work and Play Together
All Tip Sheets
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Graphic 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
Free Time: Building a Family Schedule with Room for Play
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)
Young Children Need to Play!
All Tip Sheets
Using Words to Provide Positive Guidance
All Tip Sheets
Encouraging Child-to-Child Conversation
All Tip Sheets
Ease Those First-Day Blues
All Tip Sheets
Say What You Mean: Speaking Directly to Children
All Tip Sheets
Manners and Preschoolers
All Tip Sheets
What Puppets Can Mean to Children, Part 2
Blogs
,
Learning and Growing Together
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
Chores and Children: A Time to Learn
Children with Disabilities and Developmental Delays
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Blogs
Kids Who Care
All Tip Sheets
Drama and Young Children
All Tip Sheets
Who’s the Leader?
All Tip Sheets
Play and Self-Regulation in Preschool
All Tip Sheets
The Arts Lesson Addressing Benchmark 26.B.ECa
IELDS Resources
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Adapting Lesson Plans to Meet IELDS Benchmarks
Physical Development and Health Lesson Addressing Benchmark 19.B.ECb
IELDS Resources
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Adapting Lesson Plans to Meet IELDS Benchmarks
Science Lesson Addressing Benchmark 12.B.ECb
IELDS Resources
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Adapting Lesson Plans to Meet IELDS Benchmarks
Science Lesson Addressing Benchmark 11.A.ECf
Adapting Lesson Plans to Meet IELDS Benchmarks
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IELDS Resources
Language Arts Lesson Addressing Benchmark 2.B.ECa
Adapting Lesson Plans to Meet IELDS Benchmarks
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IELDS Resources
Social/Emotional Development
2013 Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards (IELDS)
Dealing with Distraction
All Tip Sheets
Cooperation in the Preschool Classroom: Class Discussions
All Tip Sheets
Old Home, New Home, Our Home
All Tip Sheets
Freedom to Grow
All Tip Sheets
Domain 3: Early Literacy
Illinois Early Learning Guidelines: For Children Birth to Age Three (IELG)
Domain 3: Receptive Communication
Illinois Early Learning Guidelines: For Children Birth to Age Three (IELG)
Domain 3: Expressive Communication
Illinois Early Learning Guidelines: For Children Birth to Age Three (IELG)
Domain 3: Social Communication
Illinois Early Learning Guidelines: For Children Birth to Age Three (IELG)
Developmental Domain 3: Language Development, Communication, and Literacy: Introduction
Illinois Early Learning Guidelines: For Children Birth to Age Three (IELG)
Domain 1: Empathy
Illinois Early Learning Guidelines: For Children Birth to Age Three (IELG)
Domain 1: Relationship with Peers
Illinois Early Learning Guidelines: For Children Birth to Age Three (IELG)
Domain 1: Self-Concept
Illinois Early Learning Guidelines: For Children Birth to Age Three (IELG)
Domain 1: Relationship with Adults
Illinois Early Learning Guidelines: For Children Birth to Age Three (IELG)
Domain 1: Emotional Expression
Illinois Early Learning Guidelines: For Children Birth to Age Three (IELG)
Domain 1: Attachment Relationships
Illinois Early Learning Guidelines: For Children Birth to Age Three (IELG)
Developmental Domain 1: Social and Emotional Development: Introduction
Illinois Early Learning Guidelines: For Children Birth to Age Three (IELG)
Self-Regulation: Attention Regulation
Illinois Early Learning Guidelines: For Children Birth to Age Three (IELG)
Self-Regulation: Emotional Regulation
Illinois Early Learning Guidelines: For Children Birth to Age Three (IELG)
Some Benefits of Multiage Grouping
Perspectives on the Project Approach
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Blogs
Supporting Young Children in Military Families
Questions and Answers (Q&A)
Tearless Transitions
All Tip Sheets
The Curious Child
All Tip Sheets
Take a Bold Approach to Shyness
All Tip Sheets
Making and Keeping Friends
All Tip Sheets
