It’s never too early to teach and practice language and communication skills! In this list of resources, you will find engaging ways to foster emerging language skills, help children develop pre-literacy skills, support positive social behavior, and nurture children from all language and cultural backgrounds. From songs and rhymes to story play and sign language, these lessons and activities are sure to engage infants, toddlers, and two-year-olds in exciting and fun ways curated just for them.
Raising a Talker
Easy Activities for Birth to Age 3!
Combining fun, easy-to-do activities with research-based tips and developmental overviews, Raising a Talker helps parents and caregivers naturally transform play sessions into meaningful language-learning experiences. This practical communication and language guide shows parents and caregivers how to play and talk in ways that foster children’s emerging language skills while building on their natural curiosity and exploring the world together.
Time for a Story
Sharing Books with Infants and Toddlers
Planning story times with infants and toddlers can be challenging for parents and caregivers, but with thought and preparation, you can maximize the reading experiences of these little learners! In Time for a Story, explore fun and engaging ways to talk, sing, read, write, and play with young children throughout the day to help them begin developing important pre-literacy skills, including phonological awareness, print awareness, letter knowledge, and background knowledge.
Many Languages, Building Connections
Supporting Infants and Toddlers Who Are Dual Language Learners
Many Languages, Building Connections outlines adaptable strategies that caregivers of infants and toddlers who are dual language learners need to feel confident that they know how language develops, how cultural differences can come into play, and how to assess an individual child's situation to provide appropriate support.
Simple Signing with Young Children, Revised
A Guide for Infant, Toddler, and Preschool Teachers, revised edition
Simple Signing with Young Children features the latest research to equip educators and caregivers with the tools and resources to teach young learners how to effectively communicate in order to support positive social behavior, enhance classroom management, ease transitions, and help children learn impulse control and express their emotions.
Story S-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-r-s for Infants, Toddlers, and Twos
Experiences, Activities, and Games for Popular Children's Books
Story S-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-r-s contains 80 age-appropriate children's books and 240 ways to s-t-r-e-t-c-h the stories in new ways to enhance the learning process for infants, toddlers, and two-year-olds. This resource offers new ways for young children to experience the magic of a good book, and children will reap amazing benefits from being exposed to reading at an early age.
And the Cow Jumped Over the Moon
Over 650 Activities to Teach Toddlers Using Familiar Rhymes and Songs
With more than 250 songs, rhymes, and chants, this book is a fun way to enrich toddlers' language experiences. And the Cow Jumped Over the Moon provides opportunities for children to develop every aspect of reading readiness and literacy through not only the selections themselves, but also the follow-up suggestions for story time, outdoor play, music and movement, and literacy extension activities.
