Effective, nurturing, and responsive teaching practices and interactions are key for all learning in early childhood settings. They foster trust and emotional security; are communication and language rich; and promote critical thinking and problem-solving. They also support social, emotional, behavioral, and language development; provide supportive feedback for learning; and motivate continued effort. Teaching practices and interactions are responsive to and build on each child’s pattern of development and learning. They can be measured by the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS®) and other adult-child interaction tools. These observations may then be used to support professional development. Teaching practices also include how schedules and routines are carried out, how settings are managed, and how children’s challenging behaviors are addressed.
Messy play is the active exploration of materials like water and paper. It offers rich learning experiences for infants and toddlers. Listen to this podcast for strategies to make this activity fun and manageable.
Learn about the “why,” “what,” and “how” of individualizing care for infants and toddlers. Find related Head Start Program Performance Standards (HSPPS), additional resources, and reflection questions to use with staff and other program leaders.
Learn why individualizing care is important for infants and toddlers, including dual language learners and children with disabilities.
Examples of digital tools for parents and older toddlers and preschoolers to use for distance learning.
This resource uses a scenario to highlight how programs can use the Family Partnership Process to develop a plan for virtual learning.
Find out why young children exhibit behaviors that may challenge us. Learn about strategies to try when you are feeling challenged by a child’s behavior.
Learn the developmental reasons why young children behave in ways that are challenging to adults. Discover strategies for addressing these behaviors and how to support infants and toddlers when they exhibit them.
Explore research on the STEAM-related abilities of young children and how you can support them.
Helping young children learn to manage their emotions and behavior requires training and support. Learn how to help staff understand and address children's behaviors and create supportive learning environments.
Early math skills are essential to children’s school readiness and later learning. Discover ways to support infant and toddler early math skills during everyday routines and learning experiences.