Tip Sheets
IEL Tip Sheets are easy-to-read, one-page resources on a variety of topics of interest to parents and teachers of young children. All Tip Sheets are available in English and Spanish. Most Tip Sheets are available in Polish. Selected Tip Sheets are available in Korean, Chinese, Arabic, Russian and French. You can also search Tip Sheets by Topic.
A
Asthma: Easing the Wheezing
Asthma: Easing the Wheezing
Autism: Be Aware of the Signs
Autism: Be Aware of the Signs
B
Building Endurance: Let’s Get Physical!
Building Endurance: Let’s Get Physical!
Bullying Hurts Everyone
Bullying Hurts Everyone
C
Children’s Social Competence Checklist
Children’s Social Competence Checklist
Children’s Votes Count!
Children’s Votes Count!
Choosing Child Care for Infants & Toddlers
Choosing Child Care for Infants & Toddlers
Conference Time! Talking to Your Child’s Teacher or Caregiver
Conference Time! Talking to Your Child’s Teacher or Caregiver
Connecting with Parents: “But He Doesn’t Do That at Home!”
Connecting with Parents: “But He Doesn’t Do That at Home!”
Cooperation Across the Preschool Curriculum: Science
Cooperation Across the Preschool Curriculum: Science
Cooperation in the Preschool Classroom: Class Discussions
Cooperation in the Preschool Classroom: Class Discussions
Counting Up, Down, and All Around!
Counting Up, Down, and All Around!
CSI: Child Scientist Investigates!
CSI: Child Scientist Investigates!
The Curious Child
The Curious Child
D
Dealing with Distraction
Dealing with Distraction
Dealing with Parental Guilt
Dealing with Parental Guilt
Dental Health for Babies
Dental Health for Babies
Discover Letters and Words
Discover Letters and Words
Discover Shapes in Many Places
Discover Shapes in Many Places
Do You Hear What I Hear?
Do You Hear What I Hear?
Drama and Young Children
Drama and Young Children
E
Ease Those First-Day Blues!
Ease Those First-Day Blues!
Eating Right = Healthy Children
Eating Right = Healthy Children
Encouraging Child-to-Child Conversation
Encouraging Child-to-Child Conversation
Encouraging Scientific Thinking: Rain or Shine
Encouraging Scientific Thinking: Rain or Shine
Encouraging Words
Encouraging Words
Engaging Every Child
Engaging Every Child
Eyes Right! Find Amblyopia Early
Eyes Right! Find Amblyopia Early
Eyes Right! Your Child’s Vision
Eyes Right! Your Child’s Vision
F
Feelings Are Fantastic
Feelings Are Fantastic
Fight Germs! Wash Your Hands!
Fight Germs! Wash Your Hands!
Five Tips on Choosing a Preschool
Five Tips on Choosing a Preschool
Freedom to Grow
Freedom to Grow
Fun at Home with Preschoolers: Getting Ready to Read!
Fun at Home with Preschoolers: Getting Ready to Read!
Fun at Home with Preschoolers: Let’s Measure!
Fun at Home with Preschoolers: Let’s Measure!
Fun at Home with Preschoolers: Play with Light & Shadow
Fun at Home with Preschoolers: Play with Light & Shadow
Fuss Management: Comforting the Irritable Child
Fuss Management: Comforting the Irritable Child
Fuss Management: Planning Ahead to Prevent Tantrums
Fuss Management: Planning Ahead to Prevent Tantrums
G
Games for All Young Children
Games for All Young Children
Get Growing: From Seeds to Sprouts
Get Growing: From Seeds to Sprouts
Get Growing: Learning about Seeds
Get Growing: Learning about Seeds
Get Growing: Planning a Garden with Young Children
Get Growing: Planning a Garden with Young Children
Get Growing: Planters and Preschoolers
Get Growing: Planters and Preschoolers
Get Ready for a Good Dental Checkup!
Get Ready for a Good Dental Checkup!
Get Ready to Read
Get Ready to Read
Get Them to School Every Day
Get Them to School Every Day
Getting Ready for Kindergarten
Getting Ready for Kindergarten
Getting Ready to Read and Write in Child Care
Getting Ready to Read and Write in Child Care
Going to Kindergarten?
Going to Kindergarten?
The Gift of Words: Conversation and Routines
The Gift of Words: Conversation and Routines
The Gift of Words: Reading and Games
The Gift of Words: Reading and Games
H
He’s Teasing Me!
He’s Teasing Me!
Healthy Children Eat Right
Healthy Children Eat Right
Helping Children Develop “Impulse Control”
Helping Children Develop “Impulse Control”
Helping Children Handle Disappointment
Helping Children Handle Disappointment
Helping Children Learn to Get Along
Helping Children Learn to Get Along
Helping Preschoolers Learn in Two Languages
Helping Preschoolers Learn in Two Languages
Helping Siblings Get Along
Helping Siblings Get Along
Helping the Often-Angry Child
Helping the Often-Angry Child
Helping Your Child Learn in Two Languages
Helping Your Child Learn in Two Languages
I
Inclusion in Preschool Classrooms
Inclusion in Preschool Classrooms
Investigate Together
Investigate Together
Is My Child OK?
Is My Child OK?
It Takes Money: Economics for Preschoolers
It Takes Money: Economics for Preschoolers
K
Keep Up the Good Work
Keep Up the Good Work
Keep Young Children Safe in the Car
Keep Young Children Safe in the Car
Keeping Healthy and Safe: Arriving at School or Childcare
Keeping Healthy and Safe: Arriving at School or Childcare
Keeping Healthy and Safe: Face Coverings
Keeping Healthy and Safe: Face Coverings
Keeping Healthy and Safe: Fighting Germs
Keeping Healthy and Safe: Fighting Germs
Keeping Healthy and Safe: Physical Distancing
Keeping Healthy and Safe: Physical Distancing
Keeping Healthy and Safe: Play Time
Keeping Healthy and Safe: Play Time
Keeping Healthy and Safe: Smaller Group Sizes
Keeping Healthy and Safe: Smaller Group Sizes
Keeping Track of Important Information
Keeping Track of Important Information
Kids Who Care
Kids Who Care
L
Learning and Fun on Family Field Trips
Learning and Fun on Family Field Trips
Learning by Listening to Language
Learning by Listening to Language
Lice Aren’t Nice!
Lice Aren’t Nice!
Literacy across the Preschool Curriculum
Literacy across the Preschool Curriculum
M
Make Room for Blocks!
Make Room for Blocks!
Making and Keeping Friends
Making and Keeping Friends
Making Sense of Numbers
Making Sense of Numbers
Making the Holidays Memorable and Meaningful
Making the Holidays Memorable and Meaningful
Manners and Preschoolers
Manners and Preschoolers
Math Sense: Learning about Coins
Math Sense: Learning about Coins
N
Natural Illinois: Birds
Natural Illinois: Birds
Natural Illinois: Butterflies and Moths
Natural Illinois: Butterflies and Moths
Natural Illinois: Frogs and Toads
Natural Illinois: Frogs and Toads
Natural Illinois: Insects
Natural Illinois: Insects
Natural Illinois: Leaves Are All Around
Natural Illinois: Leaves Are All Around
Natural Illinois: Mammals
Natural Illinois: Mammals
Natural Illinois: Rock On!
Natural Illinois: Rock On!
Natural Illinois: The Trees You See
Natural Illinois: The Trees You See
Neighborhood Geography with Young Children
Neighborhood Geography with Young Children
No More Diapers: Getting Started
No More Diapers: Getting Started
No More Diapers: Is Your Child Ready?
No More Diapers: Is Your Child Ready?
O
Observing Your Child in Preschool
Observing Your Child in Preschool
Old Home, New Home, Our Home
Old Home, New Home, Our Home
Organized Sports and Young Children
Organized Sports and Young Children
Out and About with Preschoolers: Close Up with Visual Arts
Out and About with Preschoolers: Close Up with Visual Arts
Out and About with Preschoolers: Dancing on the Sidewalk
Out and About with Preschoolers: Dancing on the Sidewalk
Out and About with Preschoolers: Literacy Activities
Out and About with Preschoolers: Literacy Activities
Out and About with Preschoolers: Make Some Music
Out and About with Preschoolers: Make Some Music
Out and About with Preschoolers: Science in the “Built Environment”
Out and About with Preschoolers: Science in the “Built Environment”
Out and About with Preschoolers: Sunshine Science
Out and About with Preschoolers: Sunshine Science
Out and About with Preschoolers: The Places You’ll Go!
Out and About with Preschoolers: The Places You’ll Go!
Out and About with Preschoolers: Visual Arts
Out and About with Preschoolers: Visual Arts
Outdoor Field Trips with Preschoolers: Being There!
Outdoor Field Trips with Preschoolers: Being There!
Outdoor Field Trips with Preschoolers: Deciding Where to Go
Outdoor Field Trips with Preschoolers: Deciding Where to Go
Outdoor Field Trips with Preschoolers: Follow Up!
Outdoor Field Trips with Preschoolers: Follow Up!
Outdoor Field Trips with Preschoolers: Planning Ahead
Outdoor Field Trips with Preschoolers: Planning Ahead
Outdoor Field Trips with Preschoolers: Preparing with the Children
Outdoor Field Trips with Preschoolers: Preparing with the Children
Outdoor Play: Weather or Not
Outdoor Play: Weather or Not
P
Path to Math: Beginning Numbers
Path to Math: Beginning Numbers
Path to Math: Classification
Path to Math: Classification
Path to Math: Geometric Thinking for Young Children
Path to Math: Geometric Thinking for Young Children
Path to Math: Measurement with Young Children
Path to Math: Measurement with Young Children
Path to Math: More Numbers
Path to Math: More Numbers
Path to Math: More Word Problems for Preschoolers
Path to Math: More Word Problems for Preschoolers
Path to Math: Real Graphs for Preschoolers
Path to Math: Real Graphs for Preschoolers
Path to Math: Word Problems for Preschoolers
Path to Math: Word Problems for Preschoolers
Peanut Allergy Awareness
Peanut Allergy Awareness
Pets and Young Children
Pets and Young Children
Physical Fitness for Preschool-Age Children
Physical Fitness for Preschool-Age Children
Physical Fitness for Toddlers
Physical Fitness for Toddlers
Play and Self-Regulation in Preschool
Play and Self-Regulation in Preschool
Play Right—Don’t Bite!
Play Right—Don’t Bite!
Play With Your Toddler—Indoors
Play With Your Toddler—Indoors
Playground Physics: Hang in There!
Playground Physics: Hang in There!
Playground Physics: On a Roll!
Playground Physics: On a Roll!
Playground Physics: Watch for Falling Objects!
Playground Physics: Watch for Falling Objects!
Please Don’t Go! Separation Anxiety and Children
Please Don’t Go! Separation Anxiety and Children
Positive Guidance for Young Children: Be Consistent
Positive Guidance for Young Children: Be Consistent
Positive Guidance for Young Children: Be Thoughtful
Positive Guidance for Young Children: Be Thoughtful
Positive Guidance for Young Children: Plan Ahead
Positive Guidance for Young Children: Plan Ahead
Positive Guidance for Young Children: Take a Break and Calm Down
Positive Guidance for Young Children: Take a Break and Calm Down
Predicting: Helping Preschoolers Look Ahead
Predicting: Helping Preschoolers Look Ahead
Preventing Lead Poisoning in Children
Preventing Lead Poisoning in Children
Project Approach for Preschoolers
Project Approach for Preschoolers
Project Approach: Anticipating What Children Might Learn
Project Approach: Anticipating What Children Might Learn
Project Approach: Children Taking Surveys
Project Approach: Children Taking Surveys
Project Approach: Helping Children Ask Questions
Project Approach: Helping Children Ask Questions
Project Approach: Helping Preschoolers Represent What They Learn
Project Approach: Helping Preschoolers Represent What They Learn
Project Approach: Including Every Child
Project Approach: Including Every Child
Project Approach: Phase 1—Choosing a Topic to Investigate
Project Approach: Phase 1—Choosing a Topic to Investigate
Project Approach: Phase 1—Getting Started
Project Approach: Phase 1—Getting Started
Project Approach: Phase 2—Doing Fieldwork
Project Approach: Phase 2—Doing Fieldwork
Project Approach: Phase 2—Getting Ready for Fieldwork
Project Approach: Phase 2—Getting Ready for Fieldwork
Project Approach: Phase 3—Concluding the Project
Project Approach: Phase 3—Concluding the Project
Protecting Children from Preventable Disease
Protecting Children from Preventable Disease
The Power of the Pen: Drawing and Scribbling
The Power of the Pen: Drawing and Scribbling
The Power of the Pen: Let Children Choose Writing Centers!
The Power of the Pen: Let Children Choose Writing Centers!
R
Read and Write Together
Read and Write Together
Read with Your Toddler!
Read with Your Toddler!
Real Work: Preschoolers Can Help
Real Work: Preschoolers Can Help
Remember When …
Remember When …
Returning to Childcare During COVID-19
Returning to Childcare During COVID-19
Rights of Families Experiencing Homelessness
Rights of Families Experiencing Homelessness
S
Say What You Mean! Talking Straight to Children
Say What You Mean! Talking Straight to Children
Say Yes to Healthy Snacks!
Say Yes to Healthy Snacks!
Say Yes to the Mess! Play with Rocks
Say Yes to the Mess! Play with Rocks
Say Yes to the Mess! Snow Time
Say Yes to the Mess! Snow Time
Say Yes to the Mess! Water Works
Say Yes to the Mess! Water Works
Sharing Books with Your Baby
Sharing Books with Your Baby
Sharing Books with Your Preschooler
Sharing Books with Your Preschooler
Sharing Books with Your Toddler
Sharing Books with Your Toddler
SIDS: Back to Sleep
SIDS: Back to Sleep
Sing, Play, and Hear: Music’s in the Air
Sing, Play, and Hear: Music’s in the Air
Small Child, Big Stress?
Small Child, Big Stress?
Sorting, Classifying, and Organizing
Sorting, Classifying, and Organizing
Starting Kindergarten? Help Make It a Good Experience!
Starting Kindergarten? Help Make It a Good Experience!
Supporting Adult-Child Relationships
Supporting Adult-Child Relationships
T
Take a Bold Approach to Shyness
Take a Bold Approach to Shyness
Talk Together
Talk Together
Talk, Listen, and Learn
Talk, Listen, and Learn
Teaching Children to Avoid “Stranger Danger”
Teaching Children to Avoid “Stranger Danger”
Tearless Transitions
Tearless Transitions
Tech Time for Infants and Toddlers
Tech Time for Infants and Toddlers
Tech Time for Young Children
Tech Time for Young Children
Things Change
Things Change
Things to Do While You’re Waiting: Art Is All Around
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: Art Works!
Things to Do While You’re Waiting: Curious Young Scientists
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: Get Physical
Things to Do While You’re Waiting: Language and Literacy
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: Learning Activity Kits
Things to Do While You’re Waiting: Math
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: Math Is Everywhere
Things to Do While You’re Waiting: Music and Movement
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: Music, Sound, and Movement
Things to Do While You’re Waiting: Physical Activities
Things to Do While You’re Waiting: Physical Activities
Things to Do While You’re Waiting: Science
Things to Do While You’re Waiting: Science
Things We Need: Economics for Preschoolers
Things We Need: Economics for Preschoolers
Time for Preschoolers: Duration
Time for Preschoolers: Duration
Time for Preschoolers: In Sequence!
Time for Preschoolers: In Sequence!
Time to Play, Time to Dream: Unscheduling Your Child
Time to Play, Time to Dream: Unscheduling Your Child
Too Sick to Go to Child Care?
Too Sick to Go to Child Care?
Toys from Throwaways: Boxes
Toys from Throwaways: Boxes
Toys from Throwaways: Let’s Recycle!
Toys from Throwaways: Let’s Recycle!
U
Understanding and Accepting Differences: Why Can’t Maria Walk?
Understanding and Accepting Differences: Why Can’t Maria Walk?
Using Predictable Books with Young Children
Using Predictable Books with Young Children
Using Words to Discipline Children
Using Words to Discipline Children
W
What Is Developmental Screening?
What Is Developmental Screening?
What Makes a Good Toy?
What Makes a Good Toy?
What’s Next? Predictions at Story Time
What’s Next? Predictions at Story Time
When Children Mourn
When Children Mourn
When Should I Send a Sick Child Home?
When Should I Send a Sick Child Home?
When the Teacher Calls…
When the Teacher Calls…
Who Are the People in Your Neighborhood?
Who Are the People in Your Neighborhood?
Who’s the Leader?
Who’s the Leader?
Work and Play Together
Work and Play Together
Y
Young Authors at Work: Literature Response Journals
Young Authors at Work: Literature Response Journals
Young Authors at Work: Story Dictations
Young Authors at Work: Story Dictations
Young Children Need to Play!
Young Children Need to Play!
Young Children’s Mental Health: What Is Essential?
Young Children’s Mental Health: What Is Essential?
Your Child’s First Day in Preschool
Your Child’s First Day in Preschool
Z
ZZZs, Please! Bedtime for Preschoolers
ZZZs, Please! Bedtime for Preschoolers