Child Development

A beginner's primer to providing professional child care for toddlers and two-year-olds! The elements of a quality learning environment are not the same for every age. The toddler years are unique, and what for preschool does not always work with toddlers. Complete with tips for creating a developmentally appropriate environment and experiences that stimulate muscles and minds, Focus on Toddlers gives caregivers the tools to craft a quality learning environment that's as unique as the needs of the children in their care.

Veteran teacher Judy Fujawa offers over two decades of experience in her warm, witty book of lists. Filled with the imminently practical (Creative Gift Ideas, Things to Do With Boxes, Supplies or Materials That Encourage Children to Be Creative) to the philosophical (How Children Learn, Answers to: Why Read to My Child?) to the hilarious (The "F" Words Children Are Allowed to Use, Things Found in Children's Pockets), these lists cover nearly everything one needs to know to work with and raise young children. 128 pages.

Step by step instruction on how to design a quality day care environment. Should be used side by side with ECERS-R™, the scale used to develop and quantify quality standards in the USA, Canada and abroad. Includes The How, What and Why for each indicator, seven sub-scale items, step-by-step instructions, and over 700 color photos. 441 pages.

Find exciting learning opportunities in everyday occurrences, from using laundry to teach sorting to exploring growth cycles in the garden, with the easy-to-organize, simple-to-start ideas, advice, and activities. This book will inspire parents to use their homes as classrooms and take advantage of the naturally rich learning opportunities existing in everyday life! With organizational tips, recipes, and more than 200 easy-to-pull-together activities, homeschool educators will have everything they need to offer a well-rounded preschool education rivaling the best classroom experience. Convenient charts and checklists to document children's growth ensure that there are no gaps in educational, social, or physical development. 224 pages. Paperback.

A beginner's primer to providing professional child care for infants! The elements of a quality learning environment are not the same for every age. What works for preschoolers does not always work for toddlers, and what might be appropriate for toddlers is not necessarily the best arrangement for infants. Complete with tips for creating a developmentally appropriate environment and experiences that stimulate infants' muscles and minds, Focus on Babies gives you the tools to craft a quality learning environment that's as unique as the needs of the babies in your care.

Did you know that emotions boost our memory? Or that small muscle exercises help the brain develop? Early experiences contribute to the structure of the brain and its capacities. The quality, quantity, and consistency of stimulation will determine, to a large extent, the number of brain synapses that are formed and how those connections will function. This is true for both cognitive and emotional development, and the effect is lifelong. Start Smart offers simple, straightforward ways to boost brain power with active exploration, repetition, sensory exploration, and direct experience. Revised to reflect the latest research about how children learn, the new edition of this classic bestseller offers explanations on how and why these activities help the brain develop. 160 pages. Paperback.

Children discover the magic of science as they learn about their bodies. Over 280 instantaneous activities and ideas promote skills such as observation, inference and prediction. A vital resource for developing a basic foundation in scientific concepts.

What do children need to learn first? Their ABCs? Their numbers? As it turns out, the "what" children need to develop is their social intelligence and emotional intelligence, the essential building blocks for all future learning. Best-selling author Pam Schiller provides information, activities, and experiences that develop the seven skills children need in order to become successful learners. These include the ability to relate to and play with others, express feelings, and understand how others feel. Strengthen the foundation children need to become successful learners with the seven key components in this practical, easy-to-use book! The Seven Key Components for School Readiness and Success: Confidence, Curiosity, Intentionality, Self-Control, Relationships, Cooperation, and Communication. Paperback. 128 pages.

This helpful teacher resource will guide you through creating an equitable environment for children ages 3 - 5. This book features a variety of topics that will help support conversations about identity, bias and preschool environment. Paperback. 160 pages.

This full-color illustrated poster addresses parents' and teachers' concerns about children's reading readiness and progress. Includes milestones and warning signs indicating that children might be at risk for reading challenges from birth through age six. By tracking children with this simple map, parents can be sure their children are keeping up with their peers, and intercede if they begin to notice warning signs. Available in English and Spanish. Set of 20 maps.

Materials, ideas, how-to tips, and what to do to make learning challenging and fun for the very young. Paperback. 192 pages.

Written by Carol Stock Kranowitz, The Out-Of-Sync Child was the first of its kind to explain SPD - Sensory Processing Disorder - and provide parents a drug-free alternative in helping their children grow and adjust in the world. This is the revised addition, offering new sections on hearing and vision, and how this disorder often appears alongside other conditions.

A fun, accessible approach to the maker movement! With 25 classroom-ready engineering design challenges inspired by children's favorite books, educators can seamlessly integrate making and tinkering and STEM concepts (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) in preschool through third grade classrooms. Paperback. 144 pages.

The fourth edition of this developmentally appropriate practice books includes the context of the growing world of early childhood. With a strong focus on equity and teaching and supporting all children, it emphasizes the importance of social, cultural development.