Books
52 simple and fun activities for dads and kids : simple ways for busy dads to connect with their kids
Brent Johnstone, 2016
This book is for the father who thinks he is short on time. It provides ideas to use to connect with their child/ children in ways that engages both parties, and ways to interact and learn from one another as they participate in tools built on promoting communication and activity.
Call#: HQ 756 .J65 2016
Achieving Learning Goals through Play: Teaching Young Children with Special Needs
Anne Widerstrom
Brookes Publishing, 2005
Widerstrom suggests creative ways to combine individual learning goals with play activities. Guidelines for involving children with disabilities are included.
Call#: LC 4019.3 .W534 2005
Activity Kit for Babies and Toddlers at Risk
Deborah Fein, et al.
Guilford Press, 2016
Your child’s daily routines are transformed into learning opportunities that promote crucial abilities, such as how to imitate others or use simple hand gestures to convey wants and needs.
Call#: HV 888.5 .F3271 2016
Also available as an eBook
The encyclopedia of infant and toddler activities: for children birth to 3
Donna Wittmer
Gryphon House, 2017
This book provides activities that will help you support curiosity, play, exploration, persistence, emerging foundations in literacy and math, problem solving, and so much more!
Call#: LB 1139.35 .A37 E53 2017
Also available as an eBook
Fun baby learning games : activities to support development in infants, toddlers, and two-year-olds
Sally Goldberg
Gryphon House, 2018
This incorporates theory and research-backed activities in a fun and engaging way. It will help caregivers help infants or toddlers nurture his/her skills and reach emerging milestones.
Call#: HQ 774 .G5631 2018
Only available as an eBook
Fun with Messy Play: Ideas and Activities for Children with Special Needs
Tracey Beckerleg
Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2009
Beckerleg describes activities that children find fun while they are improving their sensory awareness, coordination, communication, and social skills. This practical guide includes suggestions for using different types of equipment.
Call#: GV 183.6 .B396 2009
Loose parts 2 : inspiring play with infants and toddlers
Miriam Beloglovsky
Redleaf Press, 2016
Loose parts capture children’s curiosity, give free reign to their imagination, and encourage creativity. This form of play allows infants to be in control and recognize the power of their bodies and actions.
Call#: LB 1139.35 .P55 .B45 2016
Play and Learn Activities for Babies
Hannah Fathi
Page Street Publishing, 2022
This book contains activities on everything from fine and gross motor skills to observation and investigation skills and beyond, that will guarantee to delight your little one while introducing fundamental concepts and sparking curiosity.
Only available as an eBook
Playful Reading: Positive, Fun Ways to Build the Bond Between Preschoolers, Books, and You
Carolyn Munson-Benson
Search Institute, 2005
This book lists titles of children’s books related to such developmental assets as positive identity and social competence. For each title Benson suggests ways for the adult to introduce the book and activities related to it.
Call#: LB 1140.5 .R4 M969 2005
Retro toddler : more than 100 old-school activities to boost development
Anne Zachry
American Academy of Pediatrics, 2018
This book includes more than 100 fun, age-appropriate, “old-school” activities that promote the development of language, motor and social skills. The book includes detailed instructions for developmentally stimulating toys that parents and toddlers can make together out of everyday household items.
Call#: HQ 774.5 .Z33 2018
Supporting Play: Birth through Age Eight
Dorothy Justus Sluss
Thomson Delmar Learning, 2005
Sluss reviews research about how play benefits a young child’s social/emotional, cognitive, and physical development. She includes recommendations for facilitating play with special needs children throughout the text as well as in a special section.
Call#: LB 1140.35 .P55 S634 2005
The Creative Family: How to Encourage Imagination & Nurture Family Connections
Amanda Blake Soule
Trumpeter Books, 2008
Blake suggests simple creative arts and crafts projects children and parents can do together as a way of stimulating creativity and family relationships.
Call#: TT 157 .S636 2008
The encyclopedia of infant and toddler activities: for children birth to 3
Donna Wittmer
Gryphon House, 2017
This book provides activities that will help you support curiosity, play, exploration, persistence, emerging foundations in literacy and math, problem solving, and so much more!
Call#: LB 1139.35 .A37 E53 2017
The New Language of Toys: Teaching Communication Skills to Children with Special Needs
Sue Schwartz
Woodbine House, 2004
Schwartz has children with special needs in mind as she suggests ways parents can use suggested toys to encourage communication skills. The book includes chapters specific to the child’s age.
Call#: WS 105.5 .C8 S399 2004
Videos
Age appropriate play. Volume 1, the First 12 Months
25 min; DVD
Injoy Videos, 2004
Parents and caregivers will learn how to play with babies in ways that support their social, language, and motor development.
Call#: HQ 782 .A44 2004 Vol.1
Age Appropriate Play. Volume 2, 12 to 24 Months
25 min; DVD
Injoy Videos, 2004
Parents and caregivers will learn how to play with babies in ways that support their social, language, and motor development.
Call#: HQ 782 .A44 2004 Vol.2
Age Appropriate Play. Volume 3, 2 and 3 Year-olds
25 min; DVD
Injoy Videos, 2004
Parents and caregivers will learn how to play with babies in ways that support their social, language, and motor development.
Call#: HQ 782 .A44 2004 Vol. 3
Baby instructions. Crawler to toddler
66 min; DVD
Meridian Education Corp., 2013
This video guides parents and caregivers in nurturing child development by offering novel opportunities play and learning.
Call#: WS 105 .B119tod 2011
Baby instructions. Newborn to crawler
61 min; DVD
Meridian Education Corp., 2013
This video helps parents and caregivers create the best possible environment in which to maximize a baby’s learning potential.
Call#: WS 105 .B119new 2011
Babygarten: Nursery Rhymes, Songs, Book Sharing
24 min; DVD
Babygarten, Inc., 2004
This DVD includes rhymes and songs and suggestions for parents to use these and books to interact with their babies.
Call#: LB 1140.5 .R4 B115 2004
Music and Movement
25 min; DVD
Magna Systems, 2007
This DVD explains what research has shown us about the importance of combining movement with music in early learning environments.
Call#: LB 1115 .M987b 2007
Everyday Learning Opportunities: Play
Early CHOICES
30 min; Online
What are the benefits of play for young children? Join us to talk about brain development, natural environments and what play looks like. Also in Spanish.
Organizations
Zero to Three
Early Learning – Play – These resources help caregivers to understand that play is how children learn to communicate, problem solve, test ideas, and get along with others.
Play & Learn Center
This site, provided by KidsHealth.org, provides information on toys, games, reading readiness, music, and activities for young children.
Articles
Young Children, 66(5), 50-54
Using Toys to Support Infant-Toddler Learning and Development
Gabiel Guyton
Teachers can support play and learning by selecting appropriate toys. The author suggests inexpensive toys and materials that stimulated play and development.
Young Children, 67(3), 82-88
Supporting the Scientific Thinking and Inquiry of Toddlers and Preschoolers through Play
Maria Hamlin and Debora B. Wisneski
Through play children can learn about force, motion, diversity, and matter. Teachers can support this learning through their planning and interactions with the children. The authors describe the ways a family child care provider worked with children ages 18 months to 3 years to connect play and science.
Web Resources
Encouraging Development in Everyday Spaces (EIC)
A parent-friendly tip sheet created by the Illinois Early Intervention Clearinghouse. Also available in Spanish.
How I Communicate (EIC)
A parent-friendly tip sheet created by the Illinois Early Intervention Clearinghouse. Also available in Spanish.
How I Feel (EIC)
A parent-friendly tip sheet created by the Illinois Early Intervention Clearinghouse. Also available in Spanish.
Moments That Matter: Talking with Your Baby (EIC)
A parent-friendly tip sheet created by the Illinois Early Intervention Clearinghouse. Also available in Spanish.
A Moving Child Is a Learning Child (EIC)
A parent-friendly tip sheet created by the Illinois Early Intervention Clearinghouse. Also available in Spanish.
Fuss Management: Comforting Your Child (EIC)
A parent-friendly tip sheet created by the Illinois Early Intervention Clearinghouse. Also available in Spanish.
Just-Right Sensory Play (EIC)
A parent-friendly tip sheet created by the Illinois Early Intervention Clearinghouse. Also available in Spanish.
Parenting Can Be Child’s Play (EIC)
A parent-friendly tip sheet created by the Illinois Early Intervention Clearinghouse. Also available in Spanish.
Games for All Young Children
Games help make movement fun. Play and laughter can help develop friendship while encouraging physical fitness. Consider each child’s abilities, and encourage all children to play by adapting games for children with special needs. Also in Spanish and Polish.
How Does a Blind Child Play?
Parents can provide interesting situations and objects to encourage a blind baby’s exploration and play.
Infant and Toddler Child Development and Education
This site offers information on curriculum, learning environments, brain development and screening, assessment, evaluation and observation of infants and toddlers.
Outdoor Play: Weather or Not
Teachers know the many ways children benefit from outdoor play. But when should the weather keep them indoors? Consider the health of the children, the severity of the weather, and the air quality. Also available in Spanish and Polish.
Say Yes to the Mess! Water Works
Playing with materials such as water can be an important outdoor experience for preschoolers. When children play with water, they can build fine- and gross-motor skills. They can also apply some basic principles of science and engineering. Also in Spanish and Polish.
Suggested Activities for Young or Multi-Disabled Blind Children
This article from the Blind Children’s Resource Center suggests creative and safe use of everyday objects to encourage a child with disabilities to play.
Age-Appropriate Play for Young Children?
Children and play go together. For most people who work with young children, play has a central place in childhood. This FAQ introduces some aspects of play and lists resources for readers who want to explore the topic further. Also in Spanish.
What Makes a Good Toy?
Stores today are full of toys with “eye appeal” for children and adults. This can make it hard to tell if a toy is worth buying. After all, a child can turn almost anything into a toy! Here are some questions to keep in mind when you make decisions about toys for children. Also in Spanish and Polish.
Young Children Need to Play!
It has been said that play is children’s work. Children work hard at their play because they can make it up themselves. The best part about children’s play is that they learn a great deal while having fun. Here are some things to keep in mind about play. Also in Spanish, Polish, and Korean.