Category: Tool Kits
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Big Tech and Small Children
Most young children interact with some form of technology in our modern lives. This tool kit gives parents and educators recommendations for technology use, how to get involved in technology, what to look for when selecting technology, and how to place limits on technology use.
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Curriculum Modifications
Curriculum modifications are simple but powerful tools that can help make a learning environment more accessible to all students.
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Child Development
Child development is how a child learns, grows, and develops as they get older. This toolkit gives parents and teachers information about child development milestones, parent monitoring, concerns about development, and next steps to take if there is a concern.
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Supporting Young Children’s Friendships
This toolkit includes information on the development of skills needed to develop friendships, strategies adults can use to support young children at home and in the classroom, and tips to help children reconnect after a long separation.
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Helping Young Children Get Ready to Read
Even very young children are learning to listen to words in order to gain speech and language skills. While this is happening, they are exploring print in books and throughout their environment in order to make connections between print and spoken words. This tool kit will provide information on print awareness, oral language, phonological awareness,…
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Developmentally Appropriate Practice
Developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) promotes the development (social, emotional, physical, health, cognitive) and general learning of each child served. Developed by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the 2020 Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) Position Statement gives educators guidelines and recommendations for implementing DAP with children ages birth through age 8. This…
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Creative Arts for Young Children
Creative arts are activities that actively engage children’s imagination through movement and dance, drama and storytelling, music, and visual arts. Creative arts engage children across all domains—cognitive, language, social, emotional, and physical. This toolkit will describe four different types of creative arts and will provide ideas for encouraging and supporting young children in creative arts…
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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…
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Play
There are many pieces to the play puzzle for young children. This toolkit will define play, describe the types and benefits of play, and provide ideas and examples of play at home and in school & child care.
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Early Intervention: Resources for Families, Childcare, and Early Childhood Teachers
When a very young child shows delays in development, there are services in Illinois to support the child and their family. Early Intervention (EI) services focus on infants and toddlers with disabilities and delays, birth through age three, and their families.
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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.
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Challenging Behaviors in Young Children
This toolkit includes information on child development, the meaning of behavior, strategies adults can use with young children, and additional resources for families and educators.
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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…
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Childproofing Your Home
As you welcome a new baby, prepare for toddlerhood, or relocate to a new home, it is important to provide a safe environment for your child. The resources below can help with that process.
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Make a Mess and Explore STEAM
This tool kit provides ideas and resources to help you plan engaging and developmentally appropriate STEAM activities for young children.
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Supporting Families with Young Children Experiencing Homelessness
This tool kit is a resource to help early childhood, school, and community professionals understand how they can support families who may be experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity. IEL also has a resource list, When Children Are Homeless or Housing Insecure: How Preschool Teachers and Caregivers Can Help, which includes additional resources for educators, caregivers,…
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Resource Directory for Illinois Families with Young Children Experiencing Homelessness and Housing Insecurity
This resource directory provides contact information, descriptions of programs, state agencies, and non-profit organizations in Illinois that provide support for families of young children experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity. Families may wish to begin searching for resources in their local community using these links: Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS)IDHS provides a listing of state…
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Kindergarten Tool Kit
This tool kit is a resource for helping prekindergarten teachers partner with families as their child transitions to kindergarten. These suggestions for supporting kindergarten transition are organized by the seasons (fall, winter, spring, and summer).
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Preschool Attendance Tool Kit
The Attendance Toolkit is a resource for prekindergarten teachers to assist them in promoting the importance of daily attendance in preschool. These suggestions for promoting daily attendance are organized by the seasons (summer, fall, winter, and spring). However, they may be used at any time of the year. For resources to help providers address attendance…