Child Development

The Loose Parts set of books serve as inspiration with hundreds of beautiful full color photographs illustrating ways children enjoy using everyday items in their play, encouraging their curiosity, giving free reign to their play, and encouraging creativity. Books are available individually.

The ultimate resource book! Over 600 activities, stories, games, recipes, props, and dances to enhance any preschool curriculum. Plus a materials index, theme connection index, and thematic chart. Paperback. 512 pages.

The differences between boys and girls, in development and attitude to learning are well documented, and a formalized early curriculum emphasizes these differences. The abilities of most girls to meet goals for learning at an earlier age may result in a tendency to focus on trying to teach boys to learn like girls, instead of recognizing their unique gifts and abilities. Dispels the myths about 'under-achievement', challenges stereotypical view of gender, and recognizes the unqiue stregths and abilities… More »

This book provides teachers of young children with easy-to-use strategies to support emotional and social development in the classroom. Designed to capitalize on day-to-day interactions and caregiving routines in order to build positive relationships with and between children. Vignettes and specific language examples guide teachers in applying the strategies during everyday moments. This guide shares the "how" of supporting strong emotional connections in early childhood settings. Numerous… More »

Grounded in best practices and current research, this hands-on resource connects the dots that link brain activity, motor and sensory development, movement, and early learning. The expert authors unveil the Kinetic Scale: a visual map of the active learning needs of infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and primary graders that fits each child's individual timetable. Teachers, parents, and caregivers will find a wealth of information, actionable tips, and games they can use to support children's healthy… More »

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

This revised classic offers hundreds of updated tested solutions for the tricky problems, questions, and concerns that arise throughout the early childhood teacher's day. Based on sound developmentally appropriate theory, this how-to book on classroom management techniques enables beginning and experienced teachers alike to run effective, successful programs. Some new topics include working with ESL learners, helping children deal with traumatic life events, and using computers in the classroom. Paperback. 312 pages.

A helpful, informative companion to the Ages & Stages Questionnaires®: Social-Emotional, Second Edition (ASQ:SE-2) screening system, this DVD gives an overview of emotional and social development and provides a thorough introduction to ASQ:SE-2™. Viewers get an inside look at the screening system in practice as they watch a home visitor using ASQ:SE-2™ with the family of a 4-year-old boy. They'll see how parents complete the questionnaires, with close-ups of sample questions.… More »

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.

Children are spending less time being outside in nature, playing, imagining, and learning about their surroundings. Instead, they're spending more time with tablets, televisions, and overly structured routines. This book shows practical and strategic ways educators can create rich, explorative, and interdisciplinary learning through extensive outdoor experiences. Learn how to develop and implement a nature-based curriculum to support children's optimal learning, from start to finish. Age focus:… More »

"Children's Lively Minds" is a book filled with true stories about children exploring schema, followed up with reflection and questions on what is being learned. Taking steps to understand schema theory and willfully supporting it can help teachers and families see the savvy in the repetitive behavior of young children, and allow adults to have a better understanding and support brain development.

"Adventures in Risky Play: What is Your Yes?" goes to the heart of risk-taking and children. As educators working with young children, we all have boundaries and feelings around what risky play is allowed. Rusty Keeler invites us to examine the cage of boundaries that we have created for ourselves and our children. He challenges us to rattle our cage and discover where the lines are movable. In our role as educators and caretakers, when we allow children to play and confront risk on their… More »

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 book has been an essential resource for the early child care field. Fully revised and expanded, the 2009 version comes with a supplementary CD containing readings on key topics, plus video examples showing developmentally appropriate practice in action. Based on what the research says about development, learning, and effective practices, as well as what experience tells us about teaching intentionally, DAP articulates the principles that should guide our decision making. Chapters describe children… More »

Understanding infant and toddler behavior can be a challenge. But this Innovations book provides teacher with a more thorough understanding of the knowledge base that informs early childhood practice. Focusing on the development of children from birth to age three, Innovations gives you an in-depth guide to the early childhood field which begins to address these challenging behaviors in developmentally appropriate ways. Paperback. 372 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.

Enhance the growth and development of infants and young children with more than 400 fun, fast, and easy-to-use learning activities -- now in a new edition specially developed to complement ASQ-3™. Perfect for sharing with parents of children who are developing typically or need non intensive support in one or more developmental areas, these playful, developmentally appropriate activities encourage progress in the same five developmental areas as ASQ-3™: communication, gross motor, fine… More »

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… More »