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!
Engaging Children in Conversations
Engaging children in conversations supports children’s language, cognitive, social, and emotional development through back-and-forth exchanges. Learn more with the videos, handouts, and learning activities in this in-service suite.
Engaging Children in Conversations
Nurturing, responsive adults help language development through everyday conversations. This video highlights practices you can engage in to start and keep meaningful conversation going with children.
Conversations with Infants
In this video, two educators play with two infants on the floor. Watch and listen to how one of the educators engages an infant in conversation by narrating the infant's actions and repeating their vocalizations.
Conversations with Older Infants: Avocados
In this video, toddlers explore avocados at the table with an educator. The educator narrates the children’s actions, asking questions, and responds to children’s verbal and nonverbal language.
Conversations: Uh Oh
In this video, an infant is sitting in a highchair. An off-screen adult engages her in conversation and provides narration. The child babbles and the adult responds to her vocalizations and gestures.
Conversations during Diaper Changes
This video features a family child care provider and an educator engaging children in conversations during diaper changes. The adults ask questions, narrates, and responds to the child’s communication.
Conversations with Toddlers: Making Soup
In this video, an educator engages in conversation about pretend play items with three toddlers. The educator asks questions, introduces new words, and uses narration. The educator promotes relationships between children.
