Infant/Toddler Teaching Practices

For infants and toddlers, all learning happens within the context of their relationships with important adults in their lives. Education staff use effective teaching practices to:

Establish strong relationships with young children and their families
Create learning environments that foster children’s trust and emotional security and respond to their interests and needs
Support and extend children’s learning in culturally and linguistically appropriate ways

Use the resources on this page to strengthen infant and toddler teaching practices.

Parallel Play: A Podcast for Educators Who Love Toddlers

This podcast series focuses on how best to support the development of children between the ages of 1 and 3. Listen as hosts discuss practical teaching strategies, developmental progressions, and the joys of toddlerhood. Designed with educators in mind, this series offers multiple opportunities to reflect on ways to support toddlers.

Adult holding out her hands to help steady a toddler standing on his own.

Effective Practice Guides

The Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework (ELOF) Effective Practice Guides provide information about domain-specific teaching practices that support children’s development. The guides show what these practices look like in early learning settings and help staff reflect on and improve their teaching practices.

Text4Teachers

Text4Teachers supports Head Start teachers, staff, and others who care for and teach young children in center-based and family child care settings. Sign up to receive two free text messages per month with information, tips, research, and resources to strengthen and support your teaching practices.

ELOF2GO Mobile App

ELOF2GO is a mobile application (app) resource for teachers who want on-the-go access to the ELOF goals for children and effective teaching practices in support of those goals. It is designed for teachers, family child care providers, and home visitors. Download it now for your Apple or Android device.

Teacher and children examining varuous vegetables.

Individualizing Care for Infants and Toddlers

Learn about the why, what, and how of individualizing care for infants and toddlers. Find related HSPPS, additional resources, and reflection questions to use with staff and other program leaders.

Infant son reaching out to touch his father's fingers.

Early Essentials Webisode 8: Responsive Interactions

Interactions with infants and young children are like a dance. Listen as Janet Gonzalez Mena and other experts discuss using back-and-forth exchanges to meet children's individual needs.

Mother craddling a sleeping infant up to her shoulder.

News You Can Use: Developmentally Appropriate Practice

"Developmentally appropriate practice" (DAP) is a term often used when talking about young children. This edition of News You Can Use explores the meaning behind DAP and its purpose when working with infants and toddlers.

Let's Talk About Routines

Children are busy learning how their needs will be met by the adults who care for them. This Caring Connections podcast looks at the value of predictable routines to help young children build a sense of trust and security.

An adult watching a child play with learning toys.

Engaging Interactions and Environments

These 15-minute in-service suites are a professional development resource for staff in busy, active early childhood centers and programs. They are organized around one topic or big idea and address effective teaching and assessment practices.

Adult–Child Interaction

Teaching Practices

Teaching Practices