The following page is meant to provide educators and families information and resources to navigate the exciting world of young children. If you find a website, book, journal article, or video that is useful for this age group, please let me know. I will add it to this page.
Websites
A Day in the Life Sarah Puglisi wrote Mrs. Puglisi’s 100 National Standards which are what teaching and parenting should be all about.
Alliance for Childhood A group of early childhood professionals who promote policies and practices supporting children’s healthy development, love of learning, and joy in living.
Cara Carroll: Life In & Out of the Classroom interesting ideas for working with young children.
The Center for Parenting Education information on child development and links to books by Louise Bates Ames, Ph.D. There’s much information here to help navigate the world of childhood at every age.
Defending the Early Years (DEY) Works for a just, equitable, and quality early childhood education for every young child. DEY provides resources, toolkits, and research reports by early childhood professionals specific to early learning. Managed by childhood professionals respected in the field, they have conferences and continually update material that applies to the wellbeing of young children.
Everyday Steps to Reading and Writing brought to you by the National association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) provides pointers about language development for young children to prepare them for reading and writing.
The Gesell Institute of Child Development has been around since 1950 with the mission to promote child development that allows children to “enjoy childhood and have the time and opportunity to grow and to learn at their own pace and in their own way.”
International Play Association (IPA and IPA/USA) an interdisciplinary non-governmental organization, providing an international forum and advocacy for the promotion of play opportunities. IPA provides resources to help educators and parents promote play.
Just Play Project is found in Ithaca, New York and has the Alliance for Childhood stamp of approval. The Just Play Project could be considered a model program for play.
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) “is the world’s largest organization working on behalf of young children.”
NOTE*** Starting June 1, NAEYC will offer over 100 presentations of content shared by NAEYC experts and a diverse group of presenters from all sectors of the industry. Our presenters include policy experts, higher education faculty, school leaders, researchers and educators. While typically this type of content is only offered at NAEYC Professional Learning Institute, we are providing access to these presentations during the NAEYC Virtual Institute at no charge as our gift to you for all that you give to young children and their families.
National Education Policy Center Resources on Early Childhood Education offers the latest in ECE research and policy-making.
National Head Start Association (NHSA) offers a wide variety of services involving Head Start and Early Childhood Education. They assist in finding Head Start Programs and provide current research and description of Head Start Programs across the country.
Natural Learning Initiative (NLI) involves landscaping projects to bring children closer to their environment through outdoor activities like gardening and play. The goal is to improve children’s healthy development through built environment, nutrition, and physical activity intervention. This program is through North Carolina State University but other communities can learn from it.
Outdoors Alliance for Kids works to get children outside for child-initiated play.
PreKinders Karen Cox provides learning activities and ideas for preschool and kindergarten.
Rae Pica: Since the 1980s Rae has devoted herself to the well-being of children. She is dedicated to developing and educating the whole child through movement and play. Rae has written a number of books about the importance of play and movement.
Teach Preschool Deborah J. Stewart, M.Ed. provides instructional ideas for teachers who teach children ages three to five.
Teacher Tom: Teaching and Learning From Preschoolers. Teacher Tom is an early childhood teacher and parent who writes thoughtful posts about learning. He understands child development and writes with much passion about this age group. His posts are always engaging. He offers a variety of blog posts that parents and teachers will find helpful.
The Imagination Tree Anna from the UK has project ideas for babies to elementary age students.
Tinker Lab has numerous links to creative art ideas! “Rachelle Doorley is an arts educator and author who works with families and educators to foster creativity through hands-on making. TinkerLab supports process-based art, experiments, curiosity-driven projects, and the intersection of art and science.”
Online Programs
Janet Lansbury Podcasts provide some free podcasts from a mom who has had experience raising children.
The World of Sesame Street has online activities for children with the favorite Sesame Street characters. There are also ideas for parents, and games, stories, art and music for children.
Empowered by Play
Peaceful Playgrounds
Journals
The American Journal of Play
Reports
“AAA Considers Recess a Necessary Break From the Demands of School.” American Academy of Pediatrics. Dec. 31, 2012
“Daily School Recess Leads to Better Classroom Behavior.” American Academy of Pediatrics. February 1, 2009
“Guidance for Supporting Young Children Through Covid-19.” Defending the Early Years.
Improving Children’s health through Play: Exploring Issues and Recommendations by Joan Almon and US Play Coalition.
Yatvin, Joanne. “Warning: The Common Core Standards May Be Harmful to Children.” Phi Delta Kappan. 94 (6): 42-44. March 2013.
Books
A Vision for Universal Preschool Education by Edward Zigler, Walter s. Gilliam, and Stephanie M. Jones
Child Behavior: From Birth to Ten by Frances L. Ilg, M.D., and Louise Bates Ames, Ph.D.
Children at Play: An American History by Howard P. Chudacoff
Child Care Today: Getting it Right for Everyone by Penelope Leach
Children First: What Society Must Do—And is Not Doing—For Children Today by Penelope Leach
Education Young Children: Active Learning Practices for Preschool and Child Care Programs by Mary Hohmann and David P. Weikart
Elementary School Recess: Selected Readings, Games and Activities for Teachers and Parents by Rhonda L. Clements
The First Twelve Months of Life: Your Baby’s Growth Month by Month by Frank Caplan
How to Help Children Learn Through Play by Jean Marzollo and Janice Lloyd
The Hurried Child: Growing Up too Fast too Soon by David Elkind
Investigating Play in the 21st Century: Play & Culture Studies by Dorothy Justus Sluss, Olga S. Jarrett, Joe L. Frost and Peggy O’Neil-Wagner
Let the Children Play: How More Play Will Save Our Schools and Help Children Thrive by Pasi Sahlberg and William Doyle
Play: How It Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul by Stuart Brown, M.D., with Christopher Vaughan
Playing for Keeps: Life and Learning on a Public School Playground by Deborah Meier, Barbara S. Engel, and Beth Taylor
The Psychology of the Child by Jean Piaget and Bärbel Inhelder
Recess: Its Role in Education and Development by Anthony D. Pelligrini
Rethinking Early Childhood EducationEdited by Ann Pelo
More Story S-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-r-s: Activities to Expand Children’s Favorite Books by Shirley C. Raines and Robert J. Canady
Stretchers: Activities to Expand Children’s Favorite Books by Shirley C. Raines and Robert J. Canady
Story S-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-r-s® for Infants, Toddlers, and Twos: Experiences, Activities, and Games for Popular Children’s Books by Shirley Raines, Karen Miller, Leah Curry-Rood and Kathy Dobbs
Standardized Childhood: The Political and Cultural Struggle Over Early Education by Bruce Fuller
Taking Back Childhood: A Proven Roadmap for Raising Confident, Creative, Compassionate Kids by Nancy Carlsson-Paige
The Early Childhood Years: The 2 to 6 Year Old by Theresa and Frank Caplan
The Sandbox Investment: The Preschool Movement and Kids-First Politics by David L. Kirp
Theories of Childhood: An Introduction to Dewey, Montessori, Erikson, Piaget & Vygotsky by Carol Garhart Mooney
Touchpoints-Birth to Three by T. Berry Brazelton, M.D. and Joshua D. Sparrow M.D.
Touchpoints 3 to 6 by T. Berry Brazelton, M.D. and Joshua D. Sparrow M.D.
What Happened to Recess and Why are our Children Struggling in Kindergarten? by Susan Ohanian
What If Everybody Understood Child Development by Rae Pica
Your Baby & Child: From Birth to Age Five by Penelope Leach
Leave a Reply