This week’s resource comes to us from the Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center at Gallaudet University. It’s entitled Sign Language Use for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Hearing Babies: The Evidence Supports It, and it may be just what you’ve been looking for.  You can access it on the Clerc Center’s website under Resources, then Publications, or below for your convenience.

The Clerc Center collaborated with the American Society for Deaf Children to provide a Spanish translation to this publication.  This colorful handout is perfect to share with families who may be considering introducing signed language to their child. 

The Clerc Center also offers a wide variety information in an array of formats, including the following webinars you might find…

This week we are highlighting a resource from the Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL) entitled, “Understanding Your Child’s Behavior: Reading Your Child’s Cues from Birth to Age 2.” It’s a very interesting and quick read, filled with practical examples and age-specific suggestions. The authors also include, “Three Steps to Understanding Your Baby’s or Toddler’s Behavior,” which is intended to help parents sort out the meaning of the cues they may see and hear from their young child. There’s also a fourth bonus step on viewing tantrums as communication with a variety of effective ways to respond. Check out this week’s resource…

Last year, Head Start’s Early Childhood Learning & Knowledge Center (ECLKC) updated their “Effective Practice Guidelines” on social and emotional development. This Web resource is divided into four subdomains:

• Relationships with Adults,
• Relationships with Other Children,
• Emotional Functioning, and
• Sense of Identity and Belonging.

Each subdomain is further divided into four sections: Know, See, Do, and Improve.

In these sections you will find teaching practices for infants and toddlers; videos featuring young children; suggested practices for teachers and home visitors; and planning goals, actions steps, focused observations, reflections, and feedback to support the work of professionals who work with very young children… including Early Start service providers.

There’s a lot of information in this…

How Do Babies Learn to Crawl? is an interesting article from our colleagues at Zero to Three. The authors take the pressure off parents who might be expecting crawling by a specific age. They also define three different types of movement that many babies go through, which includes the traditional hands and knees crawl pattern, with the caveat that “it can take a while to get moving, and that’s okay.” They offer half a dozen strategies parents can try to support their babies in learning to move. Ultimately, the authors say, “there’s no wrong way to crawl” and note that some babies skip that stage altogether! Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. 

The…

As part of their Parenting for Social Justice series, Zero to Three has published Celebrating Differences: Antiracist Parenting Right From the Start. The article includes “five facts about how children come to understand differences.” These include:

1. All children notice differences;
2. It’s not okay to use differences as an excuse to stereotype others;
3. Racism is learned;
4. Racial bias starts early, between ages two and four; and
5. Diversity makes a difference.

The author supports the idea that “talking to children about racism is part of our responsibility as parents” but acknowledges that this may not always be easy. She suggests reflecting on one’s own biases and re-thinking one’s views on race. This…

The Harvard University Center on the Developing Child has created an infographic for parents and professionals alike to explain the basics of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). ACES and Toxic Stress: Frequently Asked Questions describes how ACES work to impact very young children and their families and how the effects of ACES can be mitigated. Wiew and download this graphic on the Center on the Developing Child website: https://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/aces-and-toxic-stress-frequently-asked-questions/

The ICC-Recommended Early Start Personnel Manual (ESPM) describes core knowledge and role-specific competencies needed for early intervention service provision, incorporating current research and evidence in the field of early intervention. To access the…

This resource from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) reviews the research on language development for young children who are dual language learners (DLLs) and offers tips for early childhood professionals to help multilingual babies and toddlers in their care feel safe, learn, and grow. 

View this resource in its entirety at the National Association for the Education of Young Children website: https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/yc/may2020/rocking-and-rolling.

The ICC-Recommended Early Start Personnel Manual (ESPM) describes core knowledge and role-specific competencies needed for early intervention service provision, incorporating current research and evidence in the field of early intervention. To access the ESPM,…

The California Department of Education (CDE) recently distributed a handout entitled “Early Intervention Special Education Resources.” It gives a brief overview of three important programs:

• Desired Results (DR) Access Project
• Seeds of Partnership Project
• Supporting Inclusive Practices (SIP)

Read the overview here:…

The Manifesto for Race Equity and Parent Leadership in Early Childhood Systems, published in 2019 by the Center for the Study of Social Policy, invites early childhood systems and programs to commit to "address[ing] inequities and racism by giving parents a voice and opportunity to be engaged and lead at all levels of change."

The Manifesto includes five "Core Commitments" for early childhood systems, with strategies to implement each of the commitments. This resource is also available in Spanish.

To learn more about the Manifesto, visit https://cssp.org/resource/parent-leader-manifesto/.…

Did you know that “research shows . . . having a strong foundation in early math . . . can lead to higher achievement in both math AND reading later in school.” That’s the kind of wisdom you’ll find in this tip sheet from the U.S. Departments of Health & Human Services and Education. The article defines S.T.E.M. (science, technology, engineering, and math) education in easy-to-understand terms then offers a long list of tips that families can try in their home language. These tips address such concept areas as measurement, counting, shapes, spatial relationships, patterns, and many more . . . all things inquisitive young minds are interested in learning. Give this tip sheet a read and see what S.T.E.M.…

This week we’re highlighting an informative article from the journal Childhood Obesity 15(3):206-215. In “Adverse Childhood Experiences in Infancy and Toddlerhood Predict Obesity and Health Outcomes in Middle Childhood,” McKelvey and her colleagues expand on the knowledge derived from the well-known Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) study, that indicated the “negative effects of childhood trauma on adult weight and health.” The authors specifically looked at the association between “ACEs in early childhood and their correlation to obesity and other health-related issues in middle childhood.” 

Data came from 1335 demographically diverse families in an Early Head Start study, when children were ages 1, 2, 3, and 11. Analysis of these data indicated “significant associations between (ACEs) in infancy/toddlerhood and obesity, respiratory problems, taking regular nonattention-related…

“The Story of Max” is an animated video resource designed to provide parents with an introduction to the Early Start program, guiding them through the evaluation, assessment, and IFSP processes to the point where services are received!

 …

This week we are highlighting a resource from the Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL) entitled, “Understanding Your Child’s Behavior: Reading Your Child’s Cues from Birth to Age 2.” It’s a very interesting and quick read, filled with practical examples and age-specific suggestions. The authors also include, “Three Steps to Understanding Your Baby’s or Toddler’s Behavior,” which is intended to help parents sort out the meaning of the cues they may see and hear from their young child. There’s also a fourth bonus step on viewing tantrums as communication with a variety of effective ways to respond. Check out this week’s resource…

How Do Babies Learn to Crawl? is an interesting article from our colleagues at Zero to Three. The authors take the pressure off parents who might be expecting crawling by a specific age. They also define three different types of movement that many babies go through, which includes the traditional hands and knees crawl pattern, with the caveat that “it can take a while to get moving, and that’s okay.” They offer half a dozen strategies parents can try to support their babies in learning to move. Ultimately, the authors say, “there’s no wrong way to crawl” and note that some babies skip that stage altogether! Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. 

The…

The Clerc Center at Gallaudet University offers 15 Principles for Reading to Deaf Children. The principles are described as “best practices for how to read aloud to Deaf and Hard of Hearing children” in American Sign Language. The principles were derived from research on how Deaf parents read to their Deaf children and are presented here as tips for both parents and educators about the skills and strategies useful in sharing books with young children. The principles are contained in one 15-minute video, which is captioned and voiced for non-signers. The site also provides bookmarks within the video so that a viewer can access a specific strategy without having to scan through the entire video. We think you’ll like it, so take a look. Let us know what you…

The Family Focus Resource & Empowerment Center in L.A. produced this terrific video to share “Five Things You Can Do to Make Your Family Strong.” The content is based on the Five Protective Factors you may have heard about. Watch the video to learn more. It’s also available with Spanish subtitles if you click here.

The ICC-Recommended Early Start Personnel Manual (ESPM) describes core knowledge and role-specific competencies needed for early intervention service provision, incorporating current research and evidence in the field of early intervention. To access the ESPM,…

The Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University offers the field a timely infographic entitled “What We Can Do About Toxic Stress.” It explains the concept using a clever analogy of an overburdened truck hauling too much cargo and offers some practical advice about ways to lighten the load. “Just as a truck can only bear so much weight before it . . . stops moving forward, challenging life circumstances can weigh caregivers down (making) it hard to do the things they need and want to do.” The infographic suggests seeking out supports and services that “allow caregivers to focus on caring for themselves and their children,” such as food pantries, free activities for children and families, connecting with other parents, and…

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers a wealth of resources on its website. The one we’d like to call your attention to this week is entitled Information on Safety in the Home & Community for Parents with Infants & Toddlers (Ages 0-3). Click on the title to be taken directly to the site. There you’ll find a series of links on topics ranging from burns to medicine safety to water safety and everything in between. These links will take you to topic-specific pages within CDC’s website, many of which include prevention tips. Once you’ve explored, leave us a comment below to let us know which topic you found to be most useful in your day-to-day work with families.

The ICC-Recommended Early Start Personnel Manual (ESPM) describes core…

In a “From Principles to Practice” Learning Brief, entitled “Building a Family Engagement Culture,” the authors address two questions:

• What does authentic family engagement look like? and
• How can we “engage diverse families in responsive and culturally relevant ways”?

In order to answer these questions, local advocates in L.A. County “developed a shared definition of family engagement” and outlined five guiding principles to “build upon the work of national advocates and stress the need to embed practices across the systems and settings that serve families with young children.”

The five guiding principles are as follows:

1. Foster mutual respect, trusting relationships, and shared responsibility and leadership;
2. Engaging families where they are;
3. Respect, value, and be responsive to cultural and linguistic assets;
4. Support strong social networks and connections; and
5. Foster an integrated and…

This week we’re highlighting a set of “Parent’s Guide to Choosing Childcare” tip sheets from our friends at the Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division. They’re designed to assist parents in finding a “just right” fit for their childcare needs. The tip sheets include all kinds of links to important sites and PDF documents that will answer all kinds of childcare questions. Even better, the tip sheets are available in five different languages: English, Spanish, Chinese, Farsi/Dari, and Russian. Check them out and pass them along to the families you serve. Also, let us know what you think of…

To view Zero to Three's State of Babies Yearbook 2022 website, visit https://stateofbabies.org/. To download the Yearbook directly, visit https://stateofbabies.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/State-of-Babies-2022-Yearbook.pdf. 

This week’s resource comes to us from the Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center at Gallaudet University. It’s entitled Sign Language Use for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Hearing Babies: The Evidence Supports It, and it may be just what you’ve been looking for.  You can access it on the Clerc Center’s website under Resources, then Publications, or below for your convenience.

The Clerc Center collaborated with the American Society for Deaf Children to provide a Spanish translation to this publication.  This colorful handout is perfect to share with families who may be considering introducing signed language to their child. 

The Clerc Center also offers a wide variety information in an array of formats, including the following webinars you might find…

This article from the University of Cambridge summarizes a 2020 research study reviewing the ways fathers play with their kids, and the impact of father-child play on a young child’s development. The findings suggest that the type of play that fathers engage in with their children tend to be more physical in nature (e.g., tickling, chasing), and that this type of play seems to help young children learn how to manage emotions and regulate their behavior later in life. Read more about the findings here: https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/playtime-with-dad-may-improve-childrens-self-control

The ICC-Recommended Early Start Personnel Manual (ESPM) describes core knowledge and…

This week we’re highlighting an informative article from the journal Childhood Obesity 15(3):206-215. In “Adverse Childhood Experiences in Infancy and Toddlerhood Predict Obesity and Health Outcomes in Middle Childhood,” McKelvey and her colleagues expand on the knowledge derived from the well-known Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) study, that indicated the “negative effects of childhood trauma on adult weight and health.” The authors specifically looked at the association between “ACEs in early childhood and their correlation to obesity and other health-related issues in middle childhood.” 

Data came from 1335 demographically diverse families in an Early Head Start study, when children were ages 1, 2, 3, and 11. Analysis of these data indicated “significant associations between (ACEs) in infancy/toddlerhood and obesity, respiratory problems, taking regular nonattention-related…

Ages and Stages of Development from the California Department of Education (CDE) describes the various major developmental stages from birth through age 14 in terms of what children are like and what they need at each stage. Parents are offered tips on supporting their child’s development throughout this resource. Visit this resource on the CDE website at https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/re/caqdevelopment.asp.  

The ICC-Recommended Early Start Personnel Manual (ESPM) describes core knowledge and role-specific competencies needed for early intervention service provision, incorporating current research and evidence in the field of early intervention. To access the ESPM, CLICK HERE.…

“The Story of Max” is an animated video resource designed to provide parents with an introduction to the Early Start program, guiding them through the evaluation, assessment, and IFSP processes to the point where services are received!

 …

This week we are highlighting a resource from the Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL) entitled, “Understanding Your Child’s Behavior: Reading Your Child’s Cues from Birth to Age 2.” It’s a very interesting and quick read, filled with practical examples and age-specific suggestions. The authors also include, “Three Steps to Understanding Your Baby’s or Toddler’s Behavior,” which is intended to help parents sort out the meaning of the cues they may see and hear from their young child. There’s also a fourth bonus step on viewing tantrums as communication with a variety of effective ways to respond. Check out this week’s resource…

This academic article gives an overview of social-emotional developmental milestones in early childhood with the goal of helping professionals identify issues with a child’s social-emotional development as early as possible.

Access the article here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534819/

The ICC-Recommended Early Start Personnel Manual (ESPM) describes core knowledge and role-specific competencies needed for early intervention service provision, incorporating current research and evidence in the field of early intervention. To access the ESPM, CLICK HERE.

This resource is related to the following ESPM knowledge-level…