Learning Through the Senses
Explore the teachable moments in everyday life.
As babies and toddlers begin to explore their home and surroundings through all of their senses, they can be kept safe, healthy, and engaged:
- “Tummy time” can help babies learn to hold their heads up, crawl, and focus on their surroundings. Set up a small mirror in front of them so they can see their reflection and expressions.
- Little ones explore by touching anything and everything! Find fun, safe things with different textures for children to touch and explore. Try a cotton ball, a cardboard box, or a small plastic bottle filled with water.
- Sounds are all around us, and kids love making their own sounds and music. Set up homemade instruments: a pot and spoon can be a drum set, and a paper-towel roll with holes poked in it can be a flute. Encourage siblings to play with sounds together, and use their voices to sing along.
Communicating with Parents and Caregivers Around Routines
An article offering strategies for communication with parents/caregivers.
Shaping an Engaging Learning Environment
Your space is full of opportunities for children to learn and grow!
Planning Our Days: Creating Schedules for Children
Planning ahead can help you be intentional about the learning of the children in your care!
“First/Then” Boards: Managing Daily Routines
A printable tool to help children know what to expect in their daily routines and activities.
Planning for Play in Daily Routines
A printable page to plan moments of playfulness during daily routines.
Provider-Parent Communications Log
A printable page to help parents and caregivers communicate about a child’s day.
Lesson Planning Practice
A tool to plan opportunities for learning connected to monthly and weekly themes.
