Virginia Early Intervention
Professional Development Center

Virginia Specific Information

Virginia’s Early Learning and Development Standards (ELDS): Birth to Five Learning Guidelines
VA Department of Education

The ELD Standards are a reference to help caregivers and educators who teach children in a variety of settings understand what most children are able to know and to do, across different areas of development, by a given age. This document describes development across six overlapping age bands. The ELD Standards can be used by individual caregivers and educators and early childhood programs to: understand how children build skills and understanding, in different areas of development, from birth to age 5; discern whether a particular child is learning and growing according to general expectations; identify topics for training to help all providers continually grow and improve as early childhood providers.

Articles

Lifter, K., Foster-Sanda, S., Arzamarski, C., Briesch, J., & McClure, E. (2011). Overview of play: Its uses and importance in early intervention/early childhood special education. (external website) Infants & Young Children, 24(3), 225-245. 

This article provides a review of the literature related to the use of play in early intervention, early childhood special education, and early childhood education.

Zubbler, J. M., et al. (2022). Evidence-Informed Milestones for Developmental Surveillance Tools. (external website) PEDIATRICS, 149(3), p 1-29.

This article describes the process used by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Learn the Signs. Act Early. program to review and revise milestones identified in their developmental checklists. The CDC funded the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to convene an expert working group to revise its developmental surveillance checklists. The goals of the group were to identify evidence-informed milestones to include in CDC checklists, clarify when most children can be expected to reach a milestone (to discourage a wait-and-see approach), and support clinical judgment regarding screening between recommended ages. For a video overview of this process from VA's Act Early Ambassador, watch Parent-Engaged Developmental Monitoring using CDC's Developmental Milestone Checklists: An Overview of Revisions and Updates.

eLearning, Presentations, and Webinars

eLearning

Child Development (external website)
VA’s Integrated Training Collaborative | Partnership for People with Disabilities at VCU

This module provides information about infant and toddler development (birth to 36 months) as well as the impact of specific conditions on development. Completing the module takes approximately 2 hours and results in a certificate of completion.

Child Development: Secrets of Baby Behavior (external website)
Early Impact Virginia

This module, adapted from the "Secrets of Baby Behavior" module developed by the USDA Special Project Grant for WIC, gives family support professionals in-depth information about infant behavior to share with new and expecting parents.

Understanding Age Expectations: Birth to 3 – A Guide for Virginia’s Early Childhood Special Educators (external website)
LEADS
VA Department of Education, George Mason University, Helen A. Keller Institute

This module reviews typical development for children ages birth to three, connects the user to developmental milestone resources, and offers activities to increase the user’s understanding of the developmental progression of skills while connecting them to the Indicator 7 Early Childhood Outcomes. Note: Users may need to enable Flash Player in their browser to view the module.

What is Early Childhood Development? A Guide to the Science (external website)
Center on the Developing Child – Harvard University

This learning path use videos, briefs, reports, and games to answer the following questions: Why is early childhood important? How does early childhood development happen? What can we do to support child development?

Webinars

Building Little Brains…Better!
VA’s Integrated Training Collaborative | Partnership for People with Disabilities
Presented by John Almarode

This webinar describes early brain development and the elements of an enriched environment in the areas of sensory, auditory, visual and motor development. Click the link above to visit the 2010-2011 Talks on Tuesdays Archive and scroll down until you find the webinar.

CDC's New Milestone Tracker: There's an App for That! Now How Can I Use It?!
VA’s Integrated Training Collaborative | Partnership for People with Disabilities
Presented by Deana Buck, M.Ed., Jackie Robinson Brock, M.S.W., Courtney Pugh, B.S., Telisha Woodfin, M.S.W, and Pam Booker, M.Ed.

Looking for tools to help with child find and to connect with families about developmental milestones? Join Virginia's Act Early Ambassador, Deana Buck, to learn more about the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s FREE, new Milestone Tracker app. During this webinar, participants will learn more about the app's unique features, receive tips on how to use the app to boost family engagement around developmental monitoring and screening, and get ideas for how to help promote the app in their communities. A panel of "early adopters" will share their experiences with using the app, and then we will all brainstorm ways to use this tool in our work in early intervention to engage parents and other care providers. Click the link above to visit the 2018 Talks on Tuesdays Archive and scroll down until you find the webinars.

Executive Function Skills: Approaches to Learning for Infants and Toddlers
VA’s Integrated Training Collaborative | Partnership for People with Disabilities
Presented by Ann Janney-Schultz

This webinar provides an overview of the development of executive function skills in infants and toddlers. Content includes discussion about what executive functions are and why they are important. Strategies are also offered to help infants and toddlers develop and improve these skills. Click the link above to visit the 2013 Talks on Tuesdays Archive and scroll down until you find the webinar.

Implementing the 5R’s of Healthy Brain Development (external website)
Division for Early Childhood (DEC) 2021 Annual Conference

Wonder how you can support healthy brain development? Learn how to implement the 5R’s of Healthy Brain Development: Relationships, Responsive Interactions, Respect, Routines, and Repetition. Participants will explore each component to understand how to implement strategies using the 5R’s of Healthy Brain Development to support each family. Click here to review the session handout.

This session was presented/recorded during the Division of Early Childhood (DEC) conference. For more information about the next upcoming conference, visit the DEC website.

Infant and Toddler Sleep Basics 101
VA’s Integrated Training Collaborative | Partnership for People with Disabilities
Presented by Stephanie Shrewsberry

"Sleep is highly overrated!" said no caregiver EVER! Join Stephanie Shrewsberry, a certified infant and toddler sleep consultant, to learn strategies to support and mentor families who are struggling (and EXHAUSTED!) with a child who has difficulty with sleep routines. Click the link above to visit the 2021 Talks on Tuesdays Archive and scroll down until you find the webinar.

Sensory Processing in Infants and Toddlers: Now that I Know about It What Do I Do About It?
VA’s Integrated Training Collaborative | Partnership for People with Disabilities
Presented by Tracy Miller

This webinar provides an overview of sensory processing in very young children and includes strategies for supporting sensory development. Click the link above to visit the 2010-2011 Talks on Tuesdays Archive and scroll down until you find the webinar.

Brain Rules for Baby Webinar Series (external website)

In winter 2013, a group of early interventionists and early childhood special educators convened for a book club featuring Brain Rules for Baby by Dr. John Medina. Hosted by Dr. John Almarode, colleagues met online for two webinars and one face-to-face training. View Part I (external website) and Part II (external website) of the Brain Rules for Baby webinars. Make sure to complete the survey (external website) to receive a certificate of completion after viewing this webinar series!

Young Infant Webinar Series (external website)
Texas Early Childhood Intervention

This free webinar series features 1-hour recordings on topics including assessment and intervention of feeding, motor and sensory motor development, and evaluation of infants 6 months and younger.

Tools

CDC’s Milestone Tracker App (external website)
Learn the Signs. Act Early.
Centers for Disease Control

This free app provides a fun and easy way for parents, caregivers, and home visitors to track and support early childhood development. The app has been updated to reflect a new and improved interactive design to engage families in tracking their child’s development. The app features:

• Interactive milestone checklists for children ages 2 months through 5 years;
• The ability to complete a checklist using corrected age for children born prematurely;
• Tips and activities for supporting early development;
• An easy way to share developmental progress with their healthcare provider and others;
• Appointment and developmental screening reminders.

First 2,000 Days Toolkit (external website)
North Carolina Early Childhood Foundation

This toolkit includes presentations, a video, infographics, and print materials designed to educate the community about the importance of the first 2,000 days of a child’s life and why early learning is so important.

Videos

Baby Communication Milestones (YouTube, video)
Einstein on: Baby and Toddler Milestones, Dr. Lisa Shulman | Albert Einstein College of Medicine

In this public service video for parents, Lisa Shulman, M.D., uses video of babies and toddlers to show the communication milestones expected in typically developing children. She also discusses what parents should do if they suspect their child is developmentally delayed.

Brain Hero (external website)

This 3 minute video was developed by the Center for the Developing Child at Harvard University and the University of Southern California and is based on visuals from interactive video game formats. This video “portrays how actions taken by parents, teachers, policymakers, and others can affect life outcomes for both the child and the surrounding community.”

Brain Rules for Baby Videos (external website)

This series of videos are based on the book, Brain Rules for Baby by John Medina. Brain research related to a variety of topics, such as discipline, breastfeeding, and communication, are covered in an accessible, easy-to-understand format.

Center for Early Literacy Learning (CELL) Practice Videos (external website)

CELL videos are designed for teachers, parents, trainers, coaches, and home visitors. Some of the topics covered include:

• Literacy rich environments
• Child interests
• Everyday literacy activities
• Responsive teaching, and
• Adaptations

Change the First Five Years and You Change Everything (YouTube, video)

This video was developed by The Ounce of Prevention Fund and shares a powerful message about the importance of investing in the early years and the difference we all can make in a child’s life.

Child Development: Relationships and the Environment (YouTube, video)
VA’s Integrated Training Collaborative | Partnership for People with Disabilities at VCU

This video describes how relationships and the environment are interwoven and impact development as children grow.

“Little Kids, Big Questions” Podcast Series (external website)
Zero to Three

Little Kids, Big Questions is a series of 12 podcasts with leading experts that translates the research of early childhood development into practices that mothers, fathers and other caregivers can tailor to the needs of their own child and family.

Learn the Signs. Act Early. – Virginia Handouts (external website)

A series of handouts from the CDC’s Act Early campaign have been adapted for Virginia and are available on the Infant & Toddler Connection of Virginia website www.infantva.org (external website). These handouts are available in English and Spanish and cover the following topics:

• Asperger Syndrome
• Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Cerebral Palsy
• Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
• Developmental Screening
• Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
• Fragile X Syndrome
• Hearing Loss
• Intellectual Disability
• Vision Loss
• Resources

The Magic of Everyday Moments: Seeing is Believing (Video Series) (external website)
Zero to Three

This video series is designed to help parents and students of child development understand how they can best help young children thrive. Visit the site above for information about all videos plus bonus materials including a user’s guide and parent handouts. For direct links to each video, click below.

• Brain Wonders: Nurturing Healthy Brain Development from Birth (Vimeo, video)
• Literacy Skills: The Roots of Reading Start at Birth (Vimeo, video)
• Power of Play: Building Skills While Having Fun (Vimeo, video)
• Temperament: What Makes Your Child Tick? (Vimeo, video)

Media and Children (YouTube, video)
TEDxRainier – Dimitri Christakis

Dr. Christakis is a pediatrician, parent, and researcher.  His presentation covers early brain development and the impact of media exposure and overstimulation.

Milestones in Action (external website)
Learn the Signs. Act Early.  | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Visit this page for a free library of photos and videos of developmental milestones between ages 2 months to 5 years. Information is provided about social/emotional, language/communication, cognitive, and movement/physical development.

Parent-Engaged Developmental Monitoring using CDC's Developmental Milestone Checklists: An Overview of Revisions and Updates (external website)
Presented by Deana McGuire Buck, M.Ed., Act Early Ambassador in Virginia

This 10-minute video provides an overview of developmental monitoring tools and recent 2022 revisions to the milestone checklists. More information about the review and revision process can be found in this article from the American Academy of Pediatrics: Evidence-Informed Milestones for Developmental Surveillance Tools.

Presentation File
Questions and Answers to Support the Release of the Paper, Evidence-Informed Milestones for Developmental Surveillance Tools, and LTSAE’s Updated
Milestone Materials
Helpful Resources

Toddler Development – Practice Clips
Desired Results Access Project – Video Library

Visit this video library for clips of toddlers participating in typical routines and activities. These videos were produced for use in professional development activities to provide early interventionists, early childhood educators, and other early care and education practitioners opportunities to practice skills such as observation, documentation, and assessment. You’ll find the following toddler clips in the Practice Clips section of the library:

• Tania Playing in the Yard (3:33) Tania demonstrates a variety of gross motor, communication, and social skills.
• Ben at Dinnertime (3:04) Ben demonstrates a variety of social, communication, and mealtime skills.
• Nicholas at Story Time (2:39) Nicholas demonstrates a variety of fine motor, social, and early literacy skills.
• Crystal Moving Around (3:26) Crystal demonstrates a variety of movement, social, and communication skills.
• Max at Mealtime (3:41) Max demonstrates a variety of social, communication, and self-feeding skills.
• Severina Plays Knock Knock (1:31) Severina demonstrates a variety of social, communication, and fine motor skills.
• Alec's Morning Routine (3:53) Alec demonstrates a variety of self-help, social, and communication skills.

Websites and Programs

Birth to 5: Watch Me Thrive! (external website)

Birth to 5: Watch Me Thrive! is a coordinated federal effort to encourage healthy child development, universal developmental and behavioral screening for children, and support for the families and providers who care for them. Check out the booklet: An Early Intervention Service and Early Childhood Special Education Provider’s Guide to Support Developmental and Behavioral Screening Initiates (external website, pdf)

Center on the Developing Child (external website)
Harvard University

This site offers resources related to the science of early childhood, intervention, global child development, and health. You can access briefs and papers on a variety of topic such as effects of toxic stress, early childhood mental health, executive functions, etc.  Multimedia resources, videos and interactive features are also available. Here are a few of the sites resources:

• 5 Numbers to Remember about Early Childhood Development (external website)
• Building Adult Capacities to Improve Child Outcomes (external website)
  
• Working Paper #5: The Timing and Quality of Early Experiences Combine to Shape Brain Architecture (external website)
  

Infant Toddler Specialist Network (external website)

Infant toddler specialists in VA provide support to early care and education programs to help them provide high quality services to young children through on-site consultation, training and technical assistance, and resources for child care providers/teachers and directors.

Learn the Signs. Act Early (external website)
Centers for Disease Control

This site offers many resources related to child development and milestones, information for families, health care providers, and educators, and lots of free materials. A few of these resources are listed below.

• Baby Steps Video (external website)
  This video provides information about the importance of monitoring early childhood development and acting early when a concern is noted.
  
  
• Milestone Moments (external website)
  This 24-page printable booklet is designed to help families monitor their children’s milestones between birth to 5 years.

Natural Resources (external website)
Script-NC

Free, monthly, one-way listserv. Each issue features readily available and free resources on a specific topic related to children from birth through Grade 3 and their families.

Zero to Three (external website)

This site has many resources about behavior & development, care & education, maltreatment and public policy related to the development of infants and toddlers. Many free resources are available including podcasts, printable booklets and handouts, etc. Here are a few highlighted resources you’ll find on Zero to Three’s site:

• Baby Brain Map (external website)
  The Baby Brain Map allows you to explore what is known about brain development for children from prenatally through age 36 months by clicking on areas of the brain to learn answers to a variety of questions.
  
  
• Tips & Tools on Play (external website)
  Look for lots of resources related to supporting play, nurturing brain development, what caregivers can do to encourage play, and much more.