COVID-19 – Early Learning Project

Keyword: COVID-19

  • Inclusive Practices and Remote Learning

    Inclusive Practices and Remote Learning

    During the Covid-19 pandemic, some early childhood professionals have transitioned to remote learning. This has been a new way of teaching young children for many early childhood educators. While learning remotely, children with disabilities continue to require the accommodations, modifications, and support noted in their IFSP/IEPs. This toolkit will support teachers with ideas for anytime…

  • “I’m Missing My Friends!” Supporting Young Children’s Emotions During the Pandemic

    “I’m Missing My Friends!” Supporting Young Children’s Emotions During the Pandemic

    The global COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted school, work, routines, schedules, and friendships. As difficult as this time is for adults, children are also struggling to process these changes while missing their friends. We will share strategies for supporting children’s emotional well-being during this time.

  • Families, Social-Emotional Learning, and the Pandemic

    Families, Social-Emotional Learning, and the Pandemic

    In this podcast, we speak with Kelly Russell, the program director of CU Early, which serves infants, toddlers, and expectant parents in Champaign, Urbana, and Mahomet. We explore how the pandemic has changed service delivery for home visits, developmental screenings, and support groups. We also delve into the changing social and emotional needs of families…

  • Parenting During a Pandemic

    Parenting During a Pandemic

    On this podcast, we are joined by Christy Lee, mother to four children, two with Down syndrome. Christy shares with us some tips for parenting during the pandemic on topics such as schooling, shopping, and home life.

  • Uncertain Times

    Uncertain Times

    During uncertain times, such as during a pandemic, parents, teachers, and young children can, at times, feel uncertain and even worried. In this toolkit, we have gathered some helpful resources on topics that may pertain to you during COVID-19.

  • Helping Young Children Understand Changing Holiday Traditions

    Helping Young Children Understand Changing Holiday Traditions

    It is very likely that our wintertime or holiday traditions will look different this year. Now that we are several months into the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve all gotten somewhat accustomed to canceled events, changes in expectations, and disappointments.

  • Childcare During COVID-19: Two Parents’ Perspectives

    Childcare During COVID-19: Two Parents’ Perspectives

    On this podcast, we talk with Haley and Bob about the impact of COVID-19 on childcare and their family. These parents have three young children who attend the Child Development Laboratory at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. This podcast is the third in a three-part series on childcare during COVID-19. Part 1 focuses on…

  • Childcare During COVID-19: A Teacher’s Perspective

    Childcare During COVID-19: A Teacher’s Perspective

    On this podcast, we talk with Kathryn Pannbacker about the impact of COVID-19 on childcare and her work as an early childhood educator. Pannbacker is a preschool head teacher at the Child Development Laboratory at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

  • Childcare During COVID-19: A Director’s Perspective

    Childcare During COVID-19: A Director’s Perspective

    On this podcast, we talk with Dr. Brent McBride about the impact of COVID-19 on childcare from a director’s perspective. Dr. McBride is the director of the Child Development Laboratory and a professor of human development at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

  • What If … Questions About Face Coverings from the Child’s Perspective

    What If … Questions About Face Coverings from the Child’s Perspective

    Use these slides one at a time or as a full set, to teach children how to handle stressful situations.

  • Keeping Healthy and Safe: Play Time

    Keeping Healthy and Safe: Play Time

    Young children are learning that sometimes, sharing toys and supplies is not helpful. Adults can support them with simple explanations, visual supports, and practice.

  • Keeping Healthy and Safe: Fighting Germs

    Keeping Healthy and Safe: Fighting Germs

    Young children are learning the importance of clean hands and clean environments. Adults can support them with simple explanations, visual supports, and practice.

  • Keeping Healthy and Safe: Smaller Group Sizes

    Keeping Healthy and Safe: Smaller Group Sizes

    Young children are attending programs that may have smaller groups or different groups. Adults can support them with simple explanations, visual supports, and practice.

  • Keeping Healthy and Safe: Arriving at School or Childcare

    Keeping Healthy and Safe: Arriving at School or Childcare

    Young children are learning new procedures for arriving at school or childcare. Adults can support them with simple explanations, visual supports, and practice.

  • Keeping Healthy and Safe: Face Coverings

    Keeping Healthy and Safe: Face Coverings

    Young children are learning to wear face coverings and to see others wearing them. Adults can support them with simple explanations, visual supports, and practice.

  • Keeping Healthy and Safe: Physical Distancing

    Keeping Healthy and Safe: Physical Distancing

    Young children are learning to sit or stand six 6 feet apart from each other, when possible. Adults can support them with simple explanations, visual supports, and practice.

  • Getting Your Child Ready to Return to Childcare

    Getting Your Child Ready to Return to Childcare

    Along with most states in the country, Illinois experienced a shelter-in-place order for several weeks and then started a phased reopening. For many families, this meant their young children did not attend childcare or preschool programs for an extended period of time. If they did keep attending childcare, practices at their childcare centers likely changed.

  • Returning to Childcare During COVID-19

    Returning to Childcare During COVID-19

    Families returning to childcare during the COVID-19 situation may have many questions and concerns.

  • COVID-19 Parenting Pep Talk: Be With Your Child’s Big Feelings

    COVID-19 Parenting Pep Talk: Be With Your Child’s Big Feelings

    For many of us, changes in routine and lack of choices have brought on feelings of sadness, anger, and frustration. Though we may be experiencing these difficult emotions, as adults we can understand that changes to our daily routines are to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

  • Returning to Early Childhood Programs During COVID-19

    Returning to Early Childhood Programs During COVID-19

    The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically changed our lives. Our routines have been changed. We have been unable to see our loved ones. We are concerned for our health and the health of others. As children and families slowly transition back to work and child care, families and caregivers may have concerns about how to best…

  • COVID-19 Parenting Pep Talk: Make Time for Connection

    COVID-19 Parenting Pep Talk: Make Time for Connection

    Before the COVID-19 situation, many of us, myself included, were used to taking our young children to childcare or preschool on working days. Now, we may be working from home or different hours, and we may have lost many of our predictable daily routines. In addition, many family, friends, and coworkers are no longer part…

  • COVID-19 Parenting Pep Talk: (Re)focus on Positive Guidance

    COVID-19 Parenting Pep Talk: (Re)focus on Positive Guidance

    In spring 2020, our world was turned upside down by the COVID-19 pandemic. In Illinois, our stay-at-home order has caused drastic changes in daily routines for everyone. With schools, many childcare centers, and most other places closed to stop the spread of COVID-19, we have found our daily routines profoundly changed.

  • Doing Projects With Families From a Distance

    Doing Projects With Families From a Distance

    When teachers are called on to work with children and families remotely, project work can be a welcome addition to the teacher’s toolbox for a variety of reasons.

  • Helping Young Children With Disabilities During a Trying Time: Adding Structure and Routine

    Helping Young Children With Disabilities During a Trying Time: Adding Structure and Routine

    Amid the COVID-19 crisis, you may be a parent or caregiver of a young child with special needs who was previously attending a child care center, preschool program, or receiving other services. You may now be caring for your child at home with few outside supports—and this can feel overwhelming. We know young children thrive…

  • Keep Young Children Learning at Home During Trying Times

    Keep Young Children Learning at Home During Trying Times

    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 programs and families as they work together to keep young children safe, healthy, and learning.

  • Learning at Home During Trying Times

    Learning at Home During Trying Times

    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 resource list provides information from the Illinois Early Learning Project and other reliable sources to help during this time.