Illinois Early Learning (IEL) News

• Keeping Young Children Learning at Home During Trying Times
  
  • With the recent stay at home order extended to April 30, all public schools and many childcare centers have closed. This has put many families in the unique position of providing learning opportunities at home. IEL has a new blog with lots of valuable ideas and tips as well as a resource list with a wealth of valuable information all in one place.  Be sure to bookmark this page and refer to it often!
• Helping Young Children With Disabilities During a Trying Time
  • Young children with disabilities and their families may be struggling with the loss of structured education and activities that were provided outside the home and/or by professionals visiting the home. Building structure into the daily routine may offer some relief and comfort to families. This blog provides suggestions for getting started.
• Lots of Tips for Springtime Activities
  • Extended time at home may provide an opportunity to learn about the beautiful signs of spring. IEL has many tip sheets to guide the way. Check out this “top five” list. Try them all and pick your favorite!
    • Encouraging Scientific Thinking: Rain or Shine
    • Fun at Home with Preschoolers: Play with Light and Shadow
    • Get Growing: From Seeds to Sprouts
    • Natural Illinois: Insects
    • Say Yes to the Mess! Play with Rocks
• Everyday Early Intervention During Coronavirus
  • Early intervention (EI) programs and providers in Illinois have suspended in-person visits. Some providers are conducting live video visits so families can receive EI services during COVID-19. Our Early Childhood Collective partner, the Early Intervention Clearinghouse, has some tip sheets about live video visits. Also, the clearinghouse has put together a collection of selected tip sheets with ideas about how infants and toddlers can keep working on EI outcomes during play and daily routines. Visit this page for these tip sheets.
• Help Us Serve You Better
  • The IEL Project wants to hear from you to learn how we can best serve you through our Web-based resources. Please complete our online survey and let us know how we can support you in your role as a parent, caregiver, or teacher of young children.
• Question Answering Service
  • The Illinois Early Learning Project provides reliable resources and information in response to your questions on the parenting, care, and education of young children in Illinois. To take advantage of this service, please call our toll-free number at (877) 275-3227 during business hours or send us your question using our online form.

• Upcoming Conferences

  • Piecing It All Together Conference, postponed until October 22, Collinsville, IL 

    Given the implications of COVID-19, many conferences and professional development offerings have been canceled. It is best to check with the sponsor before making plans to attend any event in the near future.
• Tell a Friend!
  • Please forward our e-newsletter to your friends to help spread Illinois Early Learning News throughout the state!
• We'd Like to Hear From You
  • For more information about the Illinois Early Learning Project, contact us at (877) 275-3227 or iel@illinois.edu.