Early Social Interactions Build Connections in the Brain
Back-and-forth social interactions build babies' language skills and strengthen language regions in their brains.
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Language and Literacy
Language and Literacy is one of the five central domains of the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework (ELOF). This collection features resources to help infants, toddlers, and preschoolers understand and respond to communication and language. Some focus on emergent literacy, which refers to the knowledge and skills that lay the foundation for reading and writing skills.
Other ELOF domains include Approaches to Learning; Social and Emotional Development; Cognition; and Perceptual, Motor, and Physical Development.
Teaching American Sign Language to Infants and Toddlers
American Sign Language (ASL) supports the learning of all infants and toddlers. Learn strategies for teaching and using ASL with young children and their families.
Books and Beyond: The Magic of Storytelling
Children especially love the chance to hear and tell stories. You can spark creativity and joy by encouraging them to dive into storytelling in all kinds of ways!
Supporting English Language Development When Children Have Little Experience with English
Caregivers and teachers, even when they do not know the home language of children, can use a number of effective strategies throughout the day to support the children’s English language development.
Novel Words
Conversations help children develop varied vocabularies. Find out how to use everyday talks with children to help them learn more vocabulary words.
Early Essentials Introduction
Explore the Early Essentials video series. Learn what Early Head Start, Migrant and Seasonal Head Start, and child care staff can do to support infant and toddler development and learning.
Early Essentials Webisode 9: Language Development
Discover more about infant and toddler language development. Hear tips on how to support this development, including for children who are dual language learners.
Early Essentials Webisode 9 Practice Moment: Language Development
Use this video to guide reflection and enhance practices that support language development with infants, toddlers, and their families.
How to Play in Nature: Language and Literacy Ideas for Teachers
Learn how to use ideas from nature to teach language and literacy in the classroom.
Early Essentials
The webisodes in this series offer key messages and helpful resources to get staff started with the youngest children and their families. Managers can use Early Essentials to design orientation experiences or staff can participate on their own.
