The COVID-19 outbreak brings rapid changes to daily schedules. With school closures, families are trying to figure out how to continue supporting children’s learning at home. Children thrive on routines and predictability, and learn best from clear expectations and consistent structure. While supporting children’s learning at home, we encourage families to begin by fostering a secure and predictable environment for young children as best as they can.
Provided below is a list of resources to help create structure and routines at home and a variety of STEM learning opportunities that can be embedded into daily routines and activities. Included in the list are also some resources that can help families adapt the activities to meet each child’s individual needs.
Update May 14, 2020
Create Routines and Structure
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Support Mealtime and Potty Training
Podcasts and tip sheets on specific strategies for mealtime and potty training; English; Tele-SCOPE
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Guides and resources on specific strategies to support individuals with autism during uncertain times; English; Autism Focused Intervention Resources & Modules (AFIRM), Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute
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Create Structure and Rules for Your Child [Part 1][Part 2]
3-minute video on creating simple routines at home with toddlers and preschoolers; English; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
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Surviving the COVID-19 Pandemic… with Children
Blog post with strategies and links to additional resources including videos for children; English; ABA DESK
Support STEM Learning Through Storybook Reading
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Storytime from Space Library Directory
Videos of NASA astronauts reading STEM / space-focused books; English; Storytime from Space
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Scholastic Learn at Home: Grades PreK-K
STEM-related E-books, books with narration, and activities; English; Scholastic
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Using Interactive Strategies to Help Foster Children’s Literacy and Mathematic Thinking Skills
Guides that provide suggestions on math talk and after-reading activities for specific books; English and Spanish; Development and Research in Early Math Education (DREME), Stanford University
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Book ideas for using stories to infuse the early years with mathematical learning
Activity cards that provide suggested math activities related to specific books; English and Spanish; Erikson Institue-Early Math Collaborative
Support STEM Learning Through Everyday Routines and Activities
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Let's Talk, Read, and Sing About STEM!
Tipsheets for using daily routines to build math and science concepts and skills through play and exploration; [English] [Spanish]; U.S. Department of Education, Department of Health and Human Services, & Too Small to Fail
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Website that includes developmental progressions, guides, and videos; English and Spanish; Learning and Teaching with Learning Trajectories [LT]2, University of Denver
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Tipsheet on math opportunities at mealtimes; [English][Spanish]; Sesame Street
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Easy Recipes That Will Get Your Family Talking about Math
Blog post that includes strategies, recipes, and tips for cooking with children; English; Development and Research in Early Math Education (DREME), Stanford University
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Learning Science and Engineering Together
This resource includes 10 one-minute videos explaining how families can support their children's STEM learning; English; Nurtures, University of Toledo
This resource includes accessible videos, games, and activities for STEM learning; English; Diagram Center
Adapting Activities and Materials at Home
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Assistive Technology at Home: Easy Adaptations for Daily Living
Tipsheet providing strategies for making adaptations at home; [English][Spanish]; Illinois Early Intervention Clearinghouse
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Simple Assistive Technology Solutions for Activities or Routines
Website with photo examples of adaptations that are searchable by functional skills, and routines/activities; English; FabricATe, University of Delaware