The internet offers an overwhelming number of resources on early learning for families and early childhood educators to access. It can be difficult to make time to sift through the onslaught of information and evaluate the quality of the materials available. The Wyoming Early Childhood Professional Learning Collaborative is here to help! Our team has carefully searched and identified a selection of excellent web resources for families and early childhood programs to support young children's learning at home. These resources include links to the most reputable early childhood organizations as well as available tools by topic.
Creative Arts
Title: Playing with Music at Home
Description: Young children love to sing, make music, and move to the beat. Teachers relate music to diverse subjects and your family can continue this learning at home.
https://www.naeyc.org/our-work/families/playing-music-home
Title: Meaningful Art Projects Parents Can Fit Into a Busy Day
Description: Art projects offer children and families many benefits. It’s important to remember that a meaningful art project doesn’t need to take a lot of parent preparation time.
https://www.naeyc.org/our-work/families/meaningful-art-projects-parents-can-fit-busy-day
Title: Painting with Water
Description: One-page activity sheet in both English and Spanish
https://teachingstrategies.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Painting_with_Water.pdf
Title: Learning to Write and Draw
Description: For very young children, there are four stages of drawing and writing that you may see as your child grows from 15 months to 3 years old. By offering repeated fun experiences with a variety of art and writing materials, you will see forward progress over time.
https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/305-learning-to-write-and-draw
Title: Childhood Creativity Leads to Innovation in Adulthood
Description: Researchers link arts and crafts in childhood to financial success in adulthood.
Title: Artful Dad: Building Early Connections Through Music and Play
Description: ZERO TO THREE is thrilled to be partnering with Artful Dad to provide a range of resources that help parents and caregivers put brain science into action through everyday play with their babies and toddlers.
Title: Raising the Next Frida Kahlo or Pablo Picasso: Milestones Toward Drawing
Description: When children are very young, art is all about discovering what these cool things called crayons and markers are and what they can do.
Title: Beyond Twinkle, Twinkle: Using Music with Infants and Toddlers
Description: Music has a power that goes beyond words. The pleasure of sharing music builds connections between parent and child as sounds and rhythms surround the child in a world of sensations and feelings. Music also offers a joyful and rewarding learning experience and nurtures a child’s imagination and creativity. Learn about how music supports all areas of young children’s development.
Title: Getting in Tune: The Powerful Influence of Music on Young Children’s Development
Description: Discusses how exposure to music enhances all areas of young children’s development, especially in bonding with loved ones.
Title: 10 Ways Babies Learn When We Sing to Them
Description: A quick list of ten ways that infants learn when we sing to them.
https://www.naeyc.org/our-work/families/10-ways-babies-learn-sing-to-them
Executive Function Skills
Title: Spark Creative Thinking with Open-Ended Questions
Description: Questions that ask children to share their ideas and feelings are much more engaging. They stimulate curiosity, inspire creativity, develop language skills, and build vocabulary.
https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/tyc/apr2020/message-backpack-spark-creative-thinking
Title: Bubbles: Family Play Plan
Description: Bubble play is just plain fun. And it helps children cooperate, take turns, and solve problems.
https://www.naeyc.org/system/files/mib_11.3.pdf
Title: Play in Early Childhood: The Role of Play in Any Setting
Description: The science of child development points to three core principles that can guide what society needs to do to help children and families thrive. In this video, learn more
about how play can foster children’s resilience to hardship, and how the complex interactions involved when children play help build their brains.
Title: Activities Guide: Enhancing and Practicing Executive Function Skills with Children from Infancy to Adolescence
Description: Executive function and self-regulation (EF/SR) skills provide critical supports for learning and development, and while we aren’t born with these skills, we are born with the potential to develop them through interactions and practice.
This guide (available for download, see link), describes a variety of activities and games that represent age-appropriate ways for adults to support and strengthen children.
Title: Frequently Asked Questions About Brain Development
Description: Explore how the human brain grows from before birth to adulthood, and how the earliest experiences in the first three years of life can dramatically shape and support brain development into adulthood.
https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/series/frequently-asked-questions-about-brain-development
Title: Everyday Ways to Support Your Baby’s and Toddler’s Early Learning
Description: Your baby is learning—about you, himself, and the world around him—from the moment he enters the world.
https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/series/frequently-asked-questions-about-brain-development
Title: School Readiness
Description: The positive impact of high-quality early childhood programs on children's success in school and beyond has been well documented. Many studies have demonstrated the importance of the early years for the developing brain. And over the past four decades, numerous studies—including the Perry Preschool Study, the Abecedarian Project, the Chicago Longitudinal Study and the Cost, Quality, and Child Outcomes Study—have shown that high-quality early childhood education increases the likelihood that children, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, will become successful students and citizens.
Families as Teachers
Title: Things Every Parent Should Know About Play
Description: Play supports children’s learning in so many ways. Make sure your child has time to play to promote cognitive, language and literacy, physical, social, and emotional development.
https://www.naeyc.org/system/files/mib-august-2018_0.pdf
Title: Five Fun Activities for Teaching Kids About Conservation
Description: A blog about teaching conservation to children through activities.
https://www.nrpa.org/blog/five-fun-activities-for-teaching-kids-about-conservation/
Title: 10 Prop Box Ideas: Mini Learning Centers at Home
Description: Bring the spirit of learning centers into your home with prop boxes—plastic bins or cardboard shoe boxes you fill with materials and props related to one topic, such as math or writing.
https://www.naeyc.org/our-work/families/10-prop-box-ideas-mini-learning-centers-home
Title: Family Routines and How They Work
Description: Ideas to help you set up healthy routines for your family.
https://raisingchildren.net.au/grown-ups/family-life/routines-rituals-relationships/family-routines
Title: Fun and Learning for Parents and Children
Description: Fun activities for you and your child to do in the home and outside.
https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/parenting/article/fun-learning-parents-children-activities-handbook
Title: Vroom
Description: Boost learning from birth-age 5 with 1000+ fast and fun tips!
Title: PBS Parents Play and Learn
Description: PBS’ first app designed specifically for parents, PBS Parents Play & Learn provides more than a dozen games parents can play with their kids, each themed around a familiar location – including the new “In the Garden” game, plus the grocery store, a restaurant, the kitchen, and many more.
https://pbskids.org/apps/pbs-parents-play--learn.html
Title: Playdough Power
Description: Squishing, rolling, sculpting, molding . . . young children love to play with playdough. Add some props from around the home and playdough play becomes a powerful way to support your child’s learning.
https://www.naeyc.org/our-work/families/playdough-power
Title: Wyoming Early Learning Guidelines (birth-3)
Description: The Early Learning Guidelines provide information of what to observe through learning and development to ensure every child is developing appropriately.
https://wyokidsfirst.org/files/2017/03/Early-Learning-Guidelines.pdf
Title: Wyoming Early Learning Foundations (3-5 years old)
Description: The Early Learning Foundations describe skills and knowledge that are important for young children to learn .
Title: Early Learning Inclusion: Recommendations and Resources for Families
Description: Free, federally-supported resources are available to help families learn about child development and help them to support their child. Other resources listed below help families advocate for and improve inclusive practices in early childhood programs.
https://www2.ed.gov/about/inits/ed/earlylearning/inclusion/resources-for-families.html
Title: ChildCare Aware
Description: A comprehensive list of resources for families Promotes the quality of care of children birth to 8 years old through educational and developmental services
https://www.childcareaware.org/resources/other-helpful-resources/resources-families/
Title: National Association for the Education of Young Children
Description: Find research-based resources, tips and ideas for families—from child development to reading, writing, music, math, and more!
https://www.naeyc.org/our-work/for-families
Title: Early Childhood Development: Talk, Read, and Sing Together Every Day!
Description: Research has found that providing children from birth to five with consistent, language-rich experiences – such as talking, reading, and singing – can have important benefits on their brain development and future school success.
https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ecd/talk-read-and-sing-together-every-day
Title: Early Childhood Development: Tips and Resources for Families
Description: Check out the resources below to help promote your child’s development.
https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ecd/child-health-development/watch-me-thrive/families/tips-and-resources
Title: WY Quality Counts
Description: What if you could affect your child’s entire life by creating a few simple habits during their first 3 years?
https://wyqualitycounts.org/parents/
Title: Parent Information Center
Description: A statewide parent center for families of children with disabilities. PIC provides information, support and referrals to families.
Title: ELOF App (The Office of Head Start)
Description: The ELOF@Home is a mobile solution for home visitors who want to access, and learn more about, the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework (HS ELOF). The app provides on-the-go access to the ELOF goals for children and effective practices for home visitors in support of those goals.
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/elof-home/id1453443131
Title: CDC Milestone Tracker App
Description: Milestones matter! Track your child’s milestones from age 2 months to 5 years with CDC’s easy-to-use illustrated checklists; get tips from CDC for encouraging your child’s development; and find out what to do if you are ever concerned about how your child is developing.
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones-app.html
Title: WY Quality Counts App
Description: You don’t need money, lots of materials or special skills to help a child grow up right—all they need is you! Use WY Quality Count’s new FREE app, ReadPlayGrow, to effortlessly support early development through quality play.
https://wyqualitycounts.org/landing/readplaygrow/
Title: Engaging Parents Through the Magic of Everyday Moments
Description: A video series and tip sheets focusing on strategies for supporting young children's development through everyday interactions.
https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/series/engaging-parents-through-the-magic-of-everyday-moments
Infants & Toddlers
Title: On the Move: The Power of Movement in Your Child’s First Three Years
Description: Learn how movement activities support young children’s development in all areas, including social-emotional skills like self- confidence and cooperation. Available in English and Spanish
Title: Zero to Three
Description: ZERO TO THREE works to ensure that babies and toddlers benefit from the early connections that are critical to their well- being and development.
Title: Social and Emotional Development
Description: Topics of interest (including video) for supporting and nurturing social and emotional development in children ages birth -3.
https://www.zerotothree.org/espanol/social-and-emotional-development
Title: Teaching Your Child About Feelings (Spanish)
Description: Help children ages 0-2 years old develop their social/emotional development by describing emotions, sharing feelings, and comforting them when they’re sad or overwhelmed.
https://challengingbehavior.cbcs.usf.edu/docs/TeachingYourChild_feelings_sp.pdf
Title: Teaching Your Child About Feelings (English)
Description: Help children ages 0-2 years old develop their social/emotional development by describing emotions, sharing feelings, and comforting them when they’re sad or overwhelmed.
https://challengingbehavior.cbcs.usf.edu/docs/TeachingYourChild_feelings.pdf
Title: 5 Steps for Brain-Building Serve and Return
Description: Child-adult relationships that are responsive and attentive—with lots of back and forth interactions—build a strong foundation in a child’s brain for all future learning and development. This is called “serve and return,” and it takes two to play! Follow these 5 steps to practice serve and return with your child.
https://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/5-steps-for-brain-building-serve-and-return/
Title: A Year of Play
Description: Browse fun seasonal activities by month to find play activities that promote your child's development all year. https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/1090-a-year-of-play#chapter-454
Title: Early Learning
Description: Babies are born learning. Very young children are learning through play, the active exploration of their environment, and, most importantly, through interactions with the significant adults in their lives. Link below to resources for early childhood educators.
https://www.zerotothree.org/early-learning
Title: LTSAE developmental monitoring information
Description: Resource for families and early childhood educators. Each age and stage of a child’s developmental milestones is divided up and represented by photos, videos and descriptions that are easily accessible. Use this library as an aid in completing the milestone checklist for your child’s age.
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/milestones-in-action.html
Language & Literacy
Title: “All About Me” Books
Description: Make simple “All About Me” books with children using photos of your child. Available in both English and Spanish
https://teachingstrategies.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/TS_Activities_M1_Activity_no1.pdf
Title: Tips for Talking with Children
Description: Tips for adults to encourage conversations with young children.
Title: Supporting Language: Culturally Rich Dramatic Play
Description: Ideas for encouraging pay experiences for children that are inclusive of diverse cultures.
https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/tyc/dec2017/supporting-language-culturally-rich-dramatic-play
Title: Parenting
Description: Birth to Three’s approach to supporting parents is based on the belief that parents are the true experts on their children, and that there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to raising children. The information and tools we offer are designed to support parents in developing their own ways to promote their children’s growth and development. See link to parent resources below.
https://www.zerotothree.org/parenting
Title: Early Development & Well-Being
Description: The first three years of life are a period of incredible growth in all areas of a baby’s development. Learn how the earliest relationships with caregivers can promote healthy brain development, how young children build social and emotional skills, and ways you can support language and literacy development starting from birth.
https://www.zerotothree.org/early-development
Title: What We Know About Early Literacy and Language Development
Description: This handout provides information on how early language and literacy skills unfold for infants and toddlers across the first 3 years of life.
https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/300-what-we-know-about-early-literacy-and-language-development
Title: Language and Literacy Skills From 24-36 Months
Description: Early language and literacy skills are learned best through everyday moments with your child—reading books, talking, laughing and playing together. Learn more about how you can support your child's development of language and literacy skills from 24-36 months.
https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/1289-language-and-literacy-skills-from-24-36-months
Title: Supporting Language and Literacy Skills from 0-12 Months
Description: The idea of babies and toddlers talking and reading can seem incredible, but language and literacy skills start early—from birth. Learn how you can support these skills from 0-12 months.
https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/1281-supporting-language-and-literacy-skills-from-0-12-months
Title: Supporting Language and Literacy Skills from 12–24 Months
Description: The idea of babies and toddlers talking and reading can seem incredible. It isn’t necessary to “teach” very young children, but learn how you can begin to help your child develop their language and literacy skills.
https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/1285-supporting-language-and-literacy-skills-from-12-24-months
Title: School Readiness: Foundations in Language, Literacy, Thinking, and Social-Emotional Skills
Description: Learn how your young child builds strong foundations in language, literacy, thinking, and social-emotional skills starting at birth. From Magic of Everyday Moments — Series 3.
Title: Nurturing Your Child's Development from Birth to 2 Months
Description: Learn how to nurture your baby's social emotional, intellectual, language, and motor development from birth to 2 months. Explore more age ranges in our full Healthy Minds Series.
https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/321-nurturing-your-child-s-development-from-birth-to-2-months
Math & Science
Title: Fun, Easy Ways to Play with Math at Home
Description: Support children’s math skills with everyday games and activities.
https://www.naeyc.org/system/files/mib_12.2.pdf
Title: A Family Note on Finding the Math
Description: Young children begin to develop math concepts and skills very early in the first year of life. Family members play a special role in helping children learn about math. Throughout the day, as families talk, play, or carry out routines, children are learning. Family Notes show ways that families can use everyday experiences to help their young children learn math.
https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/no-search/family-note-finding-math.pdf
Title: Let's Talk About Math: Early Math Video SeriesA Family Note on Finding the Math
Description: Let's Talk About Math! An early math video series focusing on early math from birth to 3. With support from the Heising-Simons Foundation, ZERO TO THREE, Next Generation, and Too Small to Fail have partnered to develop a series of videos (in English and Spanish) highlighting the foundation of early math skills in the first 5 years of life.
https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/series/let-s-talk-about-math-early-math-video-series
Title: Let’s Talk About Math: Math Language to Share with Young Children
Description: Research shows that the more math language children hear, the more they understand early math concepts. What can you do with babies and toddlers? Start talking about math!
Title: Help Your Child Develop Early Math Skills
Description: Before they start school, most children develop an understanding of addition and subtraction through everyday interactions. Learn what informal activities give children a head start when they start learning math in school.
https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/299-help-your-child-develop-early-math-skills
Title: Math4Littles | Early Math Activities for Two- and Three-Year-Olds
Description: ZERO to THREE has designed these games to focus on the six key skill areas of early math.
Title: Early Math and Science
Description: Children use early math skills throughout their daily routines and activities. This is good news as these skills are important for being ready for school.
https://www.zerotothree.org/early-learning/early-math-and-science
Title: Everyday Fun With Shapes: Let’s Talk About Math Video
Description: Watch to see how shape awareness develops from birth to 5 years old.
https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/250-everyday-fun-with-shapes-let-s-talk-about-math-video
Title: Let’s Talk About STEM Video Series
Description: Supporting STEM skills in the early years is really about nurturing young children’s curiosity and inborn drive to test, learn, and discover.
https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/series/let-s-talk-about-stem-video-series
Title: Infant and Toddler STEAM: Supporting Interdisciplinary Experiences with Our Youngest Learners
Description: How do science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) relate to infants and toddlers? What can educators do to support the development of infants’ and toddlers’ STEAM-related skills? The authors—a professional development facilitator with experience in early STEAM and an Early Head Start (EHS) teacher who cares for and educates infants and toddlers—along with a cadre of eight other EHS teachers, were curious about finding answers to these questions. This article shares highlights from our journey together as researchers to explore infant and toddler STEAM, make connections between children’s interests and our intentional teaching practices, and create spaces that promote developmentally appropriate STEAM learning.
Motor Development
Title: Wide Open School: Get Moving
Description: Explore a collection of movement activities and videos for kids
https://wideopenschool.org/programs/family/prek-5/get-moving/
Title: Let’s Design an Obstacle Course!
Description: Create an obstacle course with our child. Fun ideas to map out and create an obstacle course to get your bodies moving.
https://teachingstrategies.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/TS_Activities_M1_Activity_no4.pdf
Title: 10 No-Cost, Screen-Free Activities to Play with Your Preschooler
Description: 10 ideas to get your child moving. You won’t need expensive equipment or a lot of time.
Title: Top 5 Tips for Active Play, Indoors and Out
Description: Experts recommend that toddlers get plenty of active play every day—at least 30 minutes of adult-led activities and 60 minutes of active free play. Here’s how to do it, whatever the weather.
https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/2639-top-5-tips-for-active-play-indoors-and-out
Title: Active for Life
Description: Fun ways to keep your child moving and grooving!
https://activeforlife.com/activities/
Title: GoNoodle
Description: GoNoodle® engages 14 million kids every month with movement and mindfulness videos created by child development experts. Available for free at school, home, and everywhere kids are!
Title: Resources for Early Childhood Educators
Description: Resources early childhood educators and other school staff can share with families to promote developmentally appropriate, healthy and safe play and learning for young children.
http://www.nea.org/tools/75705.htm
Title: Steps Toward Crawling
Description: The process of learning to crawl is actually pretty complex. Try these tips to support your baby as they explore movement through crawling.
https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/202-steps-toward-crawling
Title: Help Your Child Build Fine Motor Skills
Description: Many of your child’s daily activities—like getting dressed, eating, and writing—require control of small muscles in the hands. We call these skills fine motor skills. Your child can do more things for himself when he has opportunities to practice these skills. There are lots of activities that can increase muscle strength and coordination, preparing children for more advanced skills, from writing with a pencil, using a computer mouse, or playing a musical instrument. Help your child build fine motor skills at home by providing opportunities to...
https://www.naeyc.org/our-work/families/help-your-child-build-fine-motor-skills
Title: Does experience change the actual structure of the brain?
Description: Brain development is "activity-dependent," meaning that the electrical activity in every circuit—sensory, motor, emotional, cognitive—shapes the way that circuit gets put together.
https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/1367-does-experience-change-the-actual-structure-of-the-brain
Outdoors
Title: Going Beyond the Playground
Description: While many playgrounds are closed, there is still plenty of fun to be had outside! Go for a walk and explore with these great ideas.
https://www.naeyc.org/system/files/mib_12.4.pdf
Title: Play in the Grass!
Description: NAEYC article with ideas for outdoor play with young children.
https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/tyc/aug2019/play-in-grass-quality-outdoor-play
Title: Rocking and Rolling. Fresh Air, Fun, and Exploration: Why Outdoor Play Is Essential for Healthy Development
Description: This article discusses the benefits of outdoor play.
https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/yc/may2019/outdoor-play-is-essential
Social & Emotional Development
Title: Guiding Your Child’s Behavior
Description: Learning positive behaviors just like learning new words and skills. Here are a few tips to stay calm, patient and consistent.
https://www.naeyc.org/system/files/mib_11.4_0.pdf
Title: Understanding Social Emotional Learning: Ideas for Families
Description: Learning modules on topics of interest for families of children 0-5.
http://csefel.vanderbilt.edu/resources/family.html
Title: Building Social and Emotional Skills at Home
Description: Ideas for families to build social and emotional skills at home
https://www.naeyc.org/our-work/families/building-social-emotional-skills-at-home
Title: Understanding Feelings-Preschool (English)
Description: Teaching your child how to identify and express emotions.
https://challengingbehavior.cbcs.usf.edu/docs/TeachingYourChild_emotions.pdf
Title: Understanding Feelings-Preschool (Spanish)
Description: Teaching your child how to identify and express emotions.
https://challengingbehavior.cbcs.usf.edu/docs/TeachingYourChild_emotions_sp.pdf
Title: Problem Solving Steps
Description: When faced with conflict many young children have difficulty coming up with rational solutions. They act out in anger or with frustration for lack of a more appropriate way to deal with the situation. Children need to be specifically taught the problem solving steps, to be able to think of multiple alternative solutions, and to understand that solutions have consequences. Teachers might use the Problem Solving Boy or Girl and The Solution Kit Cards.
https://challengingbehavior.cbcs.usf.edu/docs/SocialEmotionalSkills_problem-solving-steps_poster.pdf
Title: Social Emotional Skills Solution Kit
Description: Printable cards to assist early childhood educators support young children in their moments of frustration.
https://challengingbehavior.cbcs.usf.edu/docs/SocialEmotionalSkills_solution-kit.pdf
Title: Resources: Infant/Toddler Training Modules
Description: Promoting Social and Emotional Competence: These modules were designed based on input gathered during focus groups with program administrators, T/TA providers, early educators, and family members about the types and content of training that would be most useful in addressing the social-emotional needs of young children. The content of the modules is consistent with evidence-based practices identified through a thorough review of the literature.
http://csefel.vanderbilt.edu/resources/training_infant.html
Title: Resources: Practical Strategies for Teachers/Caregivers
Description: Resources include: Scripted Stories for Social Situations, Tools for Working on “Building Relationships”, Book List, Book Nook, Teaching Social Emotional Skills, Tools for Developing Behavior Support Plans, Download the Practical Strategies Flyer for Teachers.
http://csefel.vanderbilt.edu/resources/strategies.html
Title: Promoting Young Children’s Social and Emotional Health
Description: This article explains why social emotional health matters and how to support young children in their social emotional growth.
https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/yc/mar2018/promoting-social-and-emotional-health
Title: Excerpt from Spotlight on Young Children: Social and Emotional Development
Description: An aggressive behavior can evolve into bullying when it is a negative action, implemented and repeated over time (Olweus 2003). It is best to step in to address these situations early and follow up with continuous reminders and positive guidance so children can learn appropriate ways to express feelings and desires. As a starting point, open the lines of communication with children by discussing bullying.This article discusses three types of aggression in the preschool years.
https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/books/excerpt-from-spotlight-social-emotional-development
Title: Teaching Emotional Intelligence in Early Childhood
Description: Children with higher emotional intelligence are better able to pay attention, are more engaged in school, have more positive relationships, and are more empathic.
https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/yc/mar2017/teaching-emotional-intelligence
Title: Arts Help Development of Social, Emotional Skills in Early Childhood
Description: A new review of research on arts and early childhood from the National Endowment for the Arts finds that arts programs help children develop social and emotional skills in early childhood
https://www.arts.gov/sites/default/files/arts-in-early-childhood-dec2015-rev.pd
Special Education
General Special Education Resources
Title: Wyoming Institute for Disabilities
Description: The Wyoming Institute for Disabilities (WIND) is an academic unit in the College of Health Sciences and a University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD).WIND works to assist individuals with developmental disabilities, their families, professionals, and University of Wyoming students through education, training, community services, and early intervention.
Title: Council for Exceptional Children
Description: The Council for Exceptional Children is a professional association of educators dedicated to advancing the success of children with exceptionalities.It includes the Division for Early Childhood. The Division for Early Childhood (DEC) promotes policies and advances evidence-based practices that support families and enhance the optimal development of young children (0-8) who have or are at risk for developmental delays and disabilities. DEC is an international membership organization for those who work withor on behalf of young children (0-8) with disabilities and other special needs and their families.
https://www.cec.sped.org/ - Council for Exceptional Children
https://www.dec-sped.org/ - Division for Early Childhood
Title: Disability Terms and Definitions
Description: It is incredibly important that all children be included and that all learning experiences be individualized. This can be challenging at times, so the more early childhood educators and families know the better this process can become.
https://www.cec.sped.org/Special-Ed-Topics/Who-Are-Exceptional-Learners - Council for Exceptional Children
Challenges with Attention and Impulsivity
Title: The Power of a 4-Second Pause: Why ADHD Brains Need a Beat
Description: This page shares a simple idea to support children with attention challenges by giving them more time to respond when asked a question.
https://www.additudemag.com/preschool-clues-adhd-patient-parenting/
Title: Toddlers and Self-Control: A Survival Guide for Parents
Description: This page explains why toddlers and preschoolers may have difficulties controlling impulsive behavior. Strategies are offered to help children begin to control their impulses while that area of the brain continues to develop.
https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/toddlers-and-self-control-a-survival-guide-for-parents
Title: Impulse Control Techniques That Work for Children
Description: The article describes ways to give instructions to children and games that can be played in the home to increase a child’s ability to self-manage impulses. The article also has links to delve further into related disorders and additional resources.
https://www.verywellfamily.com/ways-to-teach-children-impulse-control-1095035
Title: Help Guide - ADHD
Description: This page has resources for parents and teachers of children with ADHD as well as resources for adults with ADHD. Among the options to explore are tips and strategies that families can implement in order to create a positive environment for their children.
https://www.helpguide.org/home-pages/add-adhd.htm
Title: Child Mind Institute - Attention
Description: The Child Mind Institute offers multiple resources for teachers and families with children struggling with mental health and learning disorders. Under topic search you can link to resources for attention and ADHD among many others.
Speech and Language Impairment
Title: Speak Easy Community
Description: On this website you will find ideas and resources from Speech and Language Pathologists that specialize in serving children birth to five. Information is provided in an optional app that gives ideas to try throughout your day during normal routines. Or you have the option to subscribe to their newsletter that gives parents and caregivers ideas on how to work on speech and language skills at home.
https://speakeasycommunity.com/
Title: Mommy Speech Therapy
Description: On this website you will find helpful information related to speech and language disorders specifically for children ranging in ages birth to 11. This website was created by ASHA certified Speech and Language Pathologist Heidi Hanks. By exploring the website you will find free resource articles that give ideas and support on subjects ranging from beginning baby sounds and communication to articulation and apraxia therapy support with free downloadable handouts.
http://mommyspeechtherapy.com/
Title: CDC – Child Development: Language and Speech Disorders in Children
Description: This website by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides information on child development and resources in a user friendly format.
Link: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/childdevelopment/language-disorders.html
Title: Center for Parent Information and Resources – Speech and Language Impairments
Description: At this site you will find webinars, articles and resource pages intended to share with families, and education professionals on a multitude of topics including speech and language impairments.
https://www.parentcenterhub.org/speechlanguage/
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Title: Autism Speaks
Description: This site has a variety of resources for parents to determine needs and to support children with Autism. There is information on early intervention, one thing to do while waiting for the results of an evaluation, information when you first learn your child has been diagnosed and more. The group was formed to provide research and the most up to date information on Autism. They support local chapters, advocate for both awareness and funding, and host events for awareness and funding (walks, races).
Title: Autism Society
Description: This site has a lot of information regarding various aspects of Autism, along with medical, educational, political, and a database included. Some of the information included is about what to expect at the various ages of Autism, along with the wide spectrum of Autistic behaviors.
https://www.autism-society.org/
Title: Sesame Street - Autism
Description: This site offers videos for kids with a variety of engaging lessons that include Julia, a little girl who has autism. There are interactive games for kids, videos for parents, and newsletters.
https://autism.sesamestreet.org/
Title: Organization for Autism Research
Description: The focus of this organization is to further research on Autism and provide free information and resources to parents, teachers and interested parties.
Title: Help Guide - Autism
Description: This page, as part of the larger Help Guide website includes a catalog of articles with strategies to guide families with Autistic children to support their child’s learning and growth.
https://www.helpguide.org/home-pages/autism.htm
Title: Nebraska Autism Spectrum Disorders Network – Social Stories
Description: This article gives examples on how to write social stories and the usefulness of using them with children with Autism. The examples given are very teacher and parent-friendly as well as informative. The pictures and headings make it easy to follow along and find what you need.
https://www.unl.edu/asdnetwork/virtual-strategies/social-stories
Visual Impairment
Title: American Council of the Blind
Description: The American Council of the Blind strives to increase the independence, security, equality of opportunity, and quality of life for all blind and visually impaired people. This website includes multiple resources for families and educators supporting children with visual impairment.
Title: Blind Babies
Description: This website offers online resources and strategies to families with children who have visual impairments. It offers family support as well as different interventions and connections to professional educators and health care providers. There are even assistive technology trainings for adults. This website offers a variety of supports for individuals and families with visual impairments.
Title: Blind Children
Description: Blind Children is a resource for parents of children who are visually impaired. This site includes short essays about a variety of topics from general information about visual impairment. There is also information regarding education for visually impaired individuals. Finally, this site provides support to encourage independent movement and travel.
Title: Perkins School for the blind
Description: The Perkins School for the Blind website provides a range of topics, including general information on blindness, help for families with relatives who are visually impaired, and resources for educators and other professionals. Although their early childhood education is completed on campus or during in-home visits; out-of-state families and teachers can utilize the Perkins’ eLearning resource.
Title: Seedlings
Description: Seedlings increases the opportunity for literacy for children with visual impairment. Not only does Seedlings provide Braille books for children for free or at a low cost, but also provides a large number of additional website links as resources for families who have children with a visual impairment; including information on eye conditions and vision, other sources of Braille material, and 25 helpful organizations/agencies.
Title: American Printing House for the Blind – Family Connect
Description: APH is the world’s largest nonprofit organization creating accessible learning experiences through educational, workplace, and independent living products and services for people who are blind and visually impaired. Family Connect is an online community created to give families of visually impaired children a place to support each other, share stories, and link to local resources.
https://www.aph.org/kids-with-vision-loss/
Hearing Impairment
Title: National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NICDC)
Description: The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, a member of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, is mandated to conduct and support biomedical and behavioral research and research training in the normal and disordered processes of hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, and language.
Title: American Speech, Language, and Hearing Association (ASHA)
Description: ASHA is the national professional, scientific, and credentialing association for 211,000 members and affiliates who are audiologists; speech-language pathologists; speech, language, and hearing scientists; audiology and speech-language pathology support personnel; and students. Audiologists specialize in preventing and assessing hearing and balance disorders as well as providing audiologic treatment, including hearing aids. Speech-language pathologists identify, assess, and treat speech and language problems, including swallowing disorders.
Title: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Hearing Loss and Prevention
Description: This resource explains what hearing loss is, screening and diagnosis, types of hearing loss, treatments, free materials, statistics, recommendations and guidelines and more that a variety of people could access to help our young children with hearing loss.
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/hearingloss/index.html
Title: Wyoming Department of Education – Outreach Services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Description: This resource provides Wyoming specific services and resources for children with hearing loss. There are links for many different resources that would be helpful for families as well as educators or therapists/staff working with children. The information comes from the Wyoming Department of Education. Suggestions for practice are clearly linked to evidence-based knowledge.
https://edu.wyoming.gov/in-the-classroom/special-programs/deaf-outreach-services/
Title: Wyoming Hands and Voices
Description: Wyoming Families for Hands & Voices is dedicated to supporting families with children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing without a bias around communication modes or methodology. Their outreach activities, parent/professional collaboration, and advocacy efforts are focused on assisting Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing children to reach their highest potential. The goal of Wyoming Families for Hands & Voices is to form a comprehensive group of parents and professionals that work together to benefit children and families with children who are deaf or hard of hearing. They provide Wyoming families with resources, networking and information in order to improve communication access and educational outcomes for their children.
https://www.wyhandsandvoices.org
Title: Wyoming Early Hearing and Detection Intervention
Description: The Wyoming Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Program works to ensure that infants, toddlers, and preschoolers with hearing loss are identified as early as possible. If hearing loss is found, we then help the child and his/her family get the timely and appropriate intervention they need.
Title: Hearing Evaluation in Children
Description: This is a resource for parents, kids and educators. It discusses what hearing loss is and gives parents information about possible treatments for hearing loss in children. It gives examples for parents to play to listen to how the ears work. Within the resource they give examples of types of hearing loss and what might signal a need to check for hearing loss. The purpose of this resource is to provide information to parents in regards to what hearing loss is and what do to if identified.
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/hear.html
Title: Hearing Loss Association of America
Description: This resource has information about what parents should do if they find out their child has hearing loss. It also included information about support groups that parents can join to help them understand and find ways to help their child with hearing loss. The purpose of this resource is to give families the means to understand the disability and then join them with other families as support.
https://www.hearingloss.org/hearing-help/communities/parents/
Emotional Disability
Title: Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Learning
Description: The Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Learning promotes social and emotional development of young children birth to age 5. This site shares research and evidence-based practices including training materials, videos, and print resources.
Title: National Association of Special Education Teachers –Emotional and Behavioral Disorders
Description: This site offers a large number of resources for families and educators supporting children with emotional and behavioral disorders. It includes information on accommodations and modifications, advocacy, classroom management, and many other topics.
https://www.naset.org/index.php?id=emotionaldisturbance2
Title: Children’s Mental Health and Emotional or Behavioral Disorders Project
Description: This site, part of PACER.org is intended to help families find resources for supporting a child with mental health or emotional or behavioral disorders. There are links to many reputable organizations and guidance for addressing challenging behaviors.
https://www.pacer.org/cmh/resources/finding-organizations-that-can-help/
Title: Center for Child and Human Development –Behavioral Health
Description: The Center for Child and Human Development at Georgetown University offers families resources to address young children’s behavioral and mental health needs.
https://gucchd.georgetown.edu/behavioral-health.php
Title: Trauma-Informed Care: Perspectives and Resources
Description: This video-enhanced resource portal provides guidance for supporting trauma-informed care, and includes links to many other mental health resources.
https://gucchdtacenter.georgetown.edu/TraumaInformedCare/
Title: Promoting Young Children’s Social and Emotional Health
Description: This resource from the National Association for the Education of Young Children describes the importance of social and emotional health and offers suggestions to support the development of children’s social and emotional skills.
https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/yc/mar2018/promoting-social-and-emotional-health
Title: Observation: The Key to Understanding Your Child
Description: This resource from the National Association for the Education of Young Children guides families through a step by step process to assist with observing their child’s behaviors to better understand what the child is communicating. The author provides tools to help families support more positive behaviors.
https://www.naeyc.org/our-work/families/observation-key-to-understanding-your-child
Sensory Processing
Title: Sensory Processing Disorder
Description: This website provides in-depth resources for parents and caregivers of children with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). The information is easy to navigate, provided by an Occupational Therapist who is also the mother of a child with SPD, and ranges in subjects from an SPD checklist to heavy work ideas and a sensory diet.
https://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/sensory-integration-activities.html
Title: Griffin Occupational Therapy –Sensory Resources for Parents
Description: This resource provides parents with insight on how to properly utilize home resources for children with SPD. Not only does the webpage provide information about what SPD is but also how to identify and utilize sensory supports.
https://www.griffinot.com/sensory-resources-parents/
Title: Star Institute –Sensory Processing Health and Wellness
Description: This website offers many great resources that support families, educators, and caregivers. Within this site, you can expect to find current programs, camps, education, and resources.
Title: Sensory Processing Disorder –Home Activities for Children
Description: This site provides a list of recommended activities for children with Sensory Processing Disorder and includes guidance for parents on selecting and facilitating activities appropriate for their child.
http://sinetwork.org/home-activities-children/
Orthopedic Impairments
Title: Extension Alliance for Better Child Care –Specific Ideas for Child Care Providers to Help Children with Physical Disabilities
Description: This post shares specific ways childcare providers can support children with physical disabilities and includes suggestions for adapting learning activities to meet each child’s needs.
Title: United Cerebral Palsy Associations
Description: This site offers many resources for supporting children with Cerebral Palsy at home and school. It includes an extensive resource library.
Title: National Rehabilitation Information Center
Description: This site offers information on many disabilities including orthopedic impairments and includes links to multiple sites with additional resources
Supporting Families Emotional Health
Title: Tips for Families: Coronavirus
Secondary Topics: Families as Teachers, Social and Emotional Development
Description: Resources offering tips for families including age-appropriate responses to common questions, a guide to self-care, and activities for young children experiencing social distancing.
https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/3210-tips-for-families-coronavirus
Title: Trauma Informed Care for Early Childhood
Secondary Topics: NA
Description: Resources for families and educators to encourage support for healthy social and emotional health and trauma informed care. Variety of videos, webinars, strategies and information specific to early childhood.
https://www.acf.hhs.gov/trauma-toolkit/early-childhood-programs
Title: Growing Great Families (Blog)
Secondary Topics: Infants and Toddlers
Description: Growing Great Families offer research based tips, tools and understanding for families as they navigate in their everyday parenting challenges of their family life
https://growinggreatfamilieswy.weebly.com/blog
Title: Parenting During the Coronavirus: You Are Enough
Secondary Topics: NA
Description: Encouragement for parents during the Coronavirus. Positive ideas and tips.
https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/parenting-during-coronavirus-you-are-enough
Title: A Guide to COVID-19 and Early Childhood Development
Secondary Topics: NA
Description: Resources and recommendations to support parents navigate their new realities at home with their children.
Title: Child Trends: Ways to Promote Children’s Resilience to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Secondary Topics: NA
Description: The current pandemic is associated with a number of stressors that make an impact in the lives of children and their families. This article highlights protective factors that can help increase the chances that children will positively adapt to changes and challenges during this time.
Title: Child Trends: Building Adult Capabilities to Improve Child Outcomes: A Theory of Change
Description: This 5-minute video depicts a theory of change from the Frontiers of Innovation community for achieving breakthrough outcomes for vulnerable children and families. It describes the need to focus on building the capabilities of caregivers and strengthening the communities that together form the environment of relationships essential to children’s lifelong learning, health, and behavior.
Title:Supporting Families: Education and Collaboration
Description: In forming relationships with families, it is wonderful to offer emotional support and share knowledge of child development—and it’s essential to make families partners in guiding their children’s education.
https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/yc/sep2018/supporting-families
Title: Building a System to Support Family Engagement
Description: By focusing on the two-way flow of information, staff and families can combine their strengths to nurture and educate each young child.
https://www.naeyc.org/resources/blog/family-engagement-system
Title: Supporting Medically Fragile Children and Their Families
Description: Families are children’s first teachers, and because many families hold strong cultural and religious perspectives about how their children should be cared for, clear communication that begins before the child joins the program is critical. This is even more instrumental with medically fragile children. This article speaks to this challenging situation and will support educators as they accept and work with these children and families.
https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/yc/sep2017/supporting-medically-fragile-children
Resources for Families
Title: Online Instruction for Young Children with Disabilities During COVID-19
Description: The essential practices in early intervention for children birth to five years can happen through actual conversation, even conversations that are held virtually. In this webinar, Robin McWilliam, Ph.D. and Cami Stevenson discuss how we can find out who’s in the family’s ecology, what the child and family needs are, develop participation-based child goals and family goals, construct a routines-by-goals matrix, and provide support-based visits—all done remotely.
In partnership with the Division for Early Childhood (DEC) and Council for Exceptional Children.
Title: Parents: Supporting Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Description: This resource offers tips in the form of graphics, video clips, and modules to support your child’s learning at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
https://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/module/c19/#content
Title: How You and Your Kids Can De-Stress During Coronavirus
Description: Research shows that just being in the presence of a compassionate, safe adult can help kids calm down. As families, we can be “that person” for each other.
https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/how-you-and-your-kids-can-de-stress-during-coronavirus
Title: Managing Screen Time | Coronavirus Daily Tips by the Child Mind Institute
Description: Every day the Child Mind Institute will publish a tip for supporting families through the coronavirus crisis. This short video is about how to balance screen time with other activities.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVGeFp4bBxI
Title: Tips for Families: Coronavirus
Description: The following resources offer tips for families including age-appropriate responses to common questions, a guide to self-care, and activities for young children experiencing social distancing.
Title: How Teachers Are Integrating COVID-19 Crisis Into Their Lessons
Description: The coronavirus as a teachable moment? Yes, indeed. Many teachers are integrating the pandemic into their lesson plans—using students’ natural curiosity about what’s happening in the world around them to deepen their understanding of critical, timely concepts in science, history, journalism, and more.
Resources for Educators
Title: Early Childhood Intervention TelePractice
Description: Here educators can find information on how to use tele-intervention during this time of social distancing. This includes an overview of system requirements, how to plan a visit, the three parts of a virtual visit, and what conducting an tele-intervention visit looks like in action.
https://www.assurethefuture.org/tele-intervention.html
Title: Learning at Home During Trying Times
Description: Many families with young children are seeking resources about learning at home with young children as the COVID-19 situation evolves in our communities. This is a trying time for early childhood programs and families as they work together to keep young children safe, healthy, and learning. We encourage adults to (1) keep a stable routine and provide consistent guidance, (2) give child-appropriate explanations, (3) provide developmentally appropriate activities, and (4) reach out for support and information from reliable sources. The resources on this website are organized by these four principles.
https://illinoisearlylearning.org/reslists/trying-times/
Title: Helping Children Cope with Emergencies
Description: Regardless of your child’s age, he or she may feel upset or have other strong emotions after an emergency. Some children react right away, while others may show signs of difficulty much later. How a child reacts and the common signs of distress can vary according to the child’s age, previous experiences, and how the child typically copes with stress.
Children react, in part, on what they see from the adults around them. When parents and caregivers deal with a disaster calmly and confidently, they can provide the best support for their children. Parents can be more reassuring to others around them, especially children, if they are better prepared.
https://www.cdc.gov/childrenindisasters/helping-children-cope.html
Title: Caring for Children in Group Settings during COVID-19
Description: Early childhood education programs have many questions about how to keep children and staff healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Guidance for open programs is now available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). This webinar will also highlight the guidance and best practices in preventing the spread of disease from the Caring for Our Children Online Standards Database.
https://goto.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1307432&tp_key=457529d53e