Books
Big body play : why boisterous, vigorous, and very physical play is essential to children’s development and learning
Frances Carlson
National Association for the Education of Young Children, 2011
This book explains the multitude of benefits of big body play for young children’s social-emotional, cognitive, and physical development.
Call#: GV 452 .C1973 2011
Child development 0-8 : a journey through the early years
Maria Robinson
McGraw Hill, 2008
The book presents a detailed and in-depth picture of early years development, particularly of developmental processes and interactions. It also emphasizes appropriate pedagogical approaches and the implications for adults who work with young children.
Call#: WS 105 .R663 2008
Child development and the brain : an introduction
Rob Abbott
Policy Press, 2015
This book explores how increasing knowledge of neuroscience and advances in methods of investigation are changing our understanding of child development and offers insight into the connections between brain development and how children think and feel.
Call#: WS 105 .Ab26 2015
Also available as an eBook
Child Development: Theories and Critical Perspectives
Rosalyn Shute and Philip Slee
Routledge, 2015
This book provides readers with an in depth overview of typical child development from a psychological lens. This resource explains the major psychological theories that have influenced child development in the past and in recent years.
Call#: BF 721 .S565 2015
Developmental Milestones of Young Children
Karen Petty
Redleaf Press, 2010
This handbook serves as a guide to the benchmarks of typical development for each age and stage that almost all children go through.
Call#: HQ 767.9 .P475 2009
Early Childhood Development: A multicultural perspective
Jeffrey Trawick-Smith
Pearson, 2014
This text book simplifies the theoretical and psychological perspectives about child development with a special emphasis on the diversity of different cultures which influence growth. This resource focuses on each of the different areas of typical development
Call#: LB 1115 .T73 2014
Enhancing Brain Development in Infants and Young Children: Strategies for Caregivers and Educators (Ages 0-8)
Doris Bergen, et al.
Teachers College Press, 2020
This book addresses the remarkable attributes of brain development but, more importantly, guides the reader to create environments and experiences for young children that will effectively enhance their developing brains, and supporting children to flourish as human beings.
Only available as an eBook
Infant and Toddler Development from Conception to Age 3
Maguire-Fong, et al.
Teachers College Press, 2018
This book invites those caring for infants to join as companions on an incredible journey. Each chapter taps a distinct area of research to shed light on babies’ biological expectations for care and their amazing competence as active participants in that care.
Only available as an eBook
Is my child developing ok?
Maurice Levy
M. Levy, 2012
The first few years of life are the most important for a child’s future development. This book will help readers understand the development process, know what to expect, how to react and when to seek help to ensure a healthy child.
Call#: WS 105.5 C3L649 2012
Pathways to competence : encouraging healthy social and emotional development in young children
Sarah Landy
Brookes Publishing, 2009
This engaging and versatile text gives professionals the guidance they need to work with families and to help build a foundation for children’s healthy social and emotional lives.
Call#: HQ 772 .L264 2009
Using stories to support learning and development in early childhood : a practical guide
Helen Lumgair
Jessica Kingsley, 2021
This book is an exploration of story and its importance in early childhood. It provides a thorough theoretical foundation and considers how to practically implement the use of stories to aid children’s wellbeing and holistic development.
Call#: LB 1042 .L957 2021
Also available as an eBook
Videos
Amazing Babies: Moving in the First Year
48 min; DVD
Move Alive Media; 2006.
This video is grouped in pre-locomotion and locomotion sections to enhance the viewer’s observation skills and understanding of the natural progression of the baby’s movement development, preverbal communication, and play interactions
Call#: WS 103 .S874 2006
Amazing Toddlers: Moving, Communicating, Learning, Age 1
34 min; DVD
Move Alive Media; 2006
This video helps the viewer discover how babies move to learn, communicate and interact in their environment.
Call#: WS 103 .S874t 2002
CDC’s Milestones in Action
Skills such as taking a first step, smiling for the first time, and waving “bye bye” are called developmental milestones. Children reach milestones in how they play, learn, speak, act, and move (crawling, walking, etc.). The CDC Act Early campaign has created a series of short video clips of children demonstrating specific developmental milestones. The videos are grouped by the approximate age a milestone is typically reached.
2 months | 4 months | 6 months | 9 months | 1 year | 18 months | 2 years | 3 years
Child development : the first two years
47 min; DVD
Special Interest Productions, 2003
This video provides a general overview of many of the topics young families and other caregivers are most concerned about in a child’s first two years.
Call#: WS 105 .C536fd 2003
Key Concepts in Child Development
These key scientific concepts are the building blocks of the core story of child development. Each page within this section provides a concise video overview of a different key concept and aggregates a variety of resources.
Touchpoints
132 min; DVD
ConsumerVision, 2006
By watching a dozen families in unique situations, Dr. Brazelton shows how and why children develop the way they do. Touchpoints are defined as periods of time that precede rapid growth in learning for parent and child.
Call#: WS 105 .T722d 2006
Everyday Learning Opportunities: Transitions
30 min; Online
Early CHOICES
Many young children have difficulties transitioning from one activity to the next, whether it’s from playing to eating, or trying to get to the car to go somewhere. This video discusses temperament, child development and offers tips and tricks for making transitions go smoothly. Also in Spanish.
Organizations
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is a professional membership organization that works to promote high-quality early learning for all young children, birth through age 8, by connecting early childhood practice, policy, and research.
Articles
Zero to Three, 35(4), 2-9
Culture, Parenting, and Zero-to-Threes
Marc Bornstein. (2015)
This article addresses parenting, culture, and the intersection of the two. The study of parenting in culture is one of similarities and differences in parental cognitions and practices and their meaning. The author provides illustrations for each.
Zero to Three, 35(2), 2-8
The Development of Self-Regulation and Executive Function in Young Children
Megan Mc Clelland and Shauna Tominey. (2014)
This article provides an overview of self-regulation and the key terms related to self-regulation, such as executive function.
Young Children, 69(3), 94-96
Rocking and Rolling. Promoting Social-Emotional Development: Helping Infants Learn About Feelings
Nikki Darling-Kuria and Aidan Bohlander. (2014)
Starting from birth, infants begin learning how to make sense of their world through interactions with caregivers. This article describes how reflective care supports healthy social-emotional development in infants and toddlers.
Young Children, 71 (5), 92-94
Rocking and Rolling: Learning to Move
Sandra Petersen, et al. (2016)
This article offers a brief explanation of motor development as a constant learning process.
Web Resources
EIC Tip Sheets
Tip Sheets include family-focused, early intervention topics presented in clear, straightforward language.
- Facing Food Challenges One Plate at a Time (Spanish)
- How I Communicate (Spanish)
- How I Feel (Spanish)
- How I Understand (Spanish)
- A Moving Child Is a Learning Child (Spanish)
- Parenting Can Be Child’s Play (Spanish)
EITP: Child Development Resources
The Early Intervention Training Program (EITP) website offers a variety of resources related to child development.
Illinois Early Learning Guidelines: For Children Birth to Age Three
The Illinois Early Learning Guidelines for Children Birth to Age 3 provide early childhood professionals and policy makers a framework for understanding child development by presenting information on what children know and should do and what development looks like in everyday life. Also in Spanish.
Healthy Children Ages and Stages
This site provides resources for parents of children of all ages. Also in Spanish.
American Academy of Pediatrics Media and Young Minds Policy Statement
This policy statement reviews the existing literature on television, videos, and mobile/interactive technologies; their potential for educational benefit; and related health concerns for young children (0 to 5 years of age).
CDC’s Milestone Tracker Mobile App
Track your child’s milestones from age 2 months to 5 years with CDC’s easy-to-use illustrated checklists; get tips from CDC for encouraging your child’s development; and find out what to do if you are ever concerned about how your child is developing.
CSEFEL Infant/Toddler Training Modules
These four training modules were developed to help caregivers understand and support social-emotional development in infants and toddlers.
PBS Parents: Child Development Activities
This web resource offers fun, engaging activities to promote child development.
Virginia Early Intervention Professional Development Center (VEIPD) resources:
Zero to Three National Center for Infants Toddlers and Families resources for families and professionals