Family child care offers mixed-age groups where siblings can be cared for together. The provider’s schedule, location, culture, and language are often a match for family needs.

Invite children to go on an adventure to find bugs on your outdoor area, backyard, or local playground. Ask children where they think they will find insects — always following their lead in the shared exploration.

Make-believe play is an important part of a research-based curriculum and practices you use every day. The sky is the limit as children create play experiences to explore scenarios from their world and beyond!

Did you know that experimenting with rhythm connects music, math, and culture? Model musical exploration, share in the joy, and follow children’s interests with types of music and ways to express themselves..

Staff can use this information to plan and carry out open ended, joyful play activities with children enrolled in Head Start programs.

Explore creativity in this home visiting webinar. Learn how home visitors partner with parents to nurture creative minds, support the development of critical thinking, and foster problem-solving.

Play is more than fun; it supports infant and toddler learning across domains. Discover strategies for effectively managing and scaffolding play and creating play-friendly activities and environments.

Through play, children learn about the world while practicing the skills that allow them to explore it. When we play with children, we provide learning environments that are rich with context and meaning. These joyful experiences help children learn!

Children learn through play every single day. Watch these videos to find out what — and how — children learn as they play.

Messy play is the active exploration of materials like water and paper. It offers rich learning experiences for infants and toddlers. Listen to this podcast for strategies to make this activity fun and manageable.