Resources for Families

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Helpful Resources for Families

Recommendations from the Executive Office on Early Learning (EOEL) for the COVID-19 crisis and beyond.

 

The Executive Office on Early Learning has curated a list of resources that families may find helpful during this extensive time at home with their children. As the state government agency in charge of coordinating early learning, we are providing materials that are appropriate for families with children from birth to kindergarten entry. However, there may be some resources that families with children any age may find helpful.
We have always emphasized the importance of positive adult-child interactions, which are key as children develop and learn. Interactive activities grounded in the science of child development promote high-quality learning experiences for children. Furthermore, particularly during these times, such experiences offer adults ways to provide the nurturing, stimulating, and secure environment children need. Children’s identities and sense of self are embedded within the quality of respectful, responsive relationships with the adults who matter most in their lives.
 

This COVID-19 Information for Families is also provided in Portable Document Format (PDF), which require a PDF reader such as Adobe Acrobat Reader for viewing and printing.

>>Printable Version – View and Print Resource List<<

 
 

Learning Together: Opportunities for Meaningful Interactions
Interactive Activities for Families and Children

Learning through meaningful interactions that support and enhance quality relationships are key for young children. These interactions impact children’s ongoing learning in all areas, including language/literacy, mathematics, the sciences, the arts, physical and perceptual skills, and social-emotional well-being.
 

The links below provide descriptions of activities that benefit children’s development and learning, promote meaningful interactions, provide parents with the opportunity to observe their children’s engagement in learning, and foster positive adult-child relationships.

Activities by Age

At-Home Activities for Infants and Toddlers
Playing with Babies
Activities for 6-18-month-old children
Activities for 18-to-36-month-old children
Activities for 3-to-5-year-olds
Activities for 5-to-7-year-olds

Activities by Discipline

Children’s Museum Pittsburgh: Museum at Home Activities
Coding with Young Children
Easy Activities to Support Learning
Foundational Skills for Math
Learning to Grow Hawaii (Family Child Care Home Resource Website)
Number Talk
Spatial Reasoning
Wakelet: Learn at Home Pre-K-Kindergarten Resources List
Virtual Field Trips
Card Games to Enhance Math Skills
Finger Counting to Support Number Concepts
Paper Folding to Support Numbers, Geometry, and Spatial Relations
Cooking Recipes and Math Talk
Math in Everyday Activities: Mayan Way
Getting Comfortable with Math
Supporting Measurement Skills
Honolulu Theatre for Youth

Music — Singing and Movement — Activities

Sample Pop Music

Songs for Carmilla (album)
• short covers and original songs by Christina Perri
Can’t Help Falling in Love With You
• child & father singing
You’ll Be in My Heart from Tarzan (start at 3:08)
• child & father singing
Tomorrow from Annie (start at 0:15)
• child & father singing
Cantus from Frozen
• choral performance
Island Style & ‘Oiwi E

Sample Children’s Songs

Had a Little Rooster (album)
• variety of short American folk tunes
Zudio (African-American Dance Game)
Brush Your Teeth
Corner Grocery Store

Sample Music from Other Cultures

Al la nanita (Spain)
Shojoji (Japan)
Irish/Celtic Music
• exposure to meter and rhythm

Sample Percussion Performances

Hambone (Body percussion for parents)
Stomp Live
Mendiani
• West African dance

Sample Instrumental

Peter and the Wolf (Prokofiev)
• With narration

Engaging with Infants

Boucing Your Baby (tutorial with several rhymes)
Dancing with Baby (tutorial with several songs)
Bouncing on My Knee
Rain is Falling Down
Peek-a-Boo

Online Music Activities

• Melody Maker
• Rhythm Maker

Routines for Children

With schools closed, children are at home and their schedules — as well as the schedules of parents and caregivers — have been disrupted. It can be especially helpful during this time to establish new routines. Below are resources that can help you understand the importance of routines and schedules as well as build some basic ones that meet your family’s needs.

Daily Schedule for Children
Family Routines
Home Routines
Routines for the Very Young Child


 

Screen Time Information

Professionals specializing in early childhood development and education have long urged parents and caregivers to be mindful of screen time with their young children. Generally, we recommend parents limit screen time for young children. We understand, though, that it might be harder to avoid screen time with children at home during the day while parents are expected to work. Below we’re offering you some information about screen time and the importance of emphasizing authentic learning programming and positive adult-child relationships. We also want to remind parents that the most important thing is that children are safe and nurtured, so the materials below are meant to help parents and caregivers make sure any online activities are safe and respectful of children’s learning needs.


Screen Time Information

More Play, Less Screen Time from Hechinger Report
Screen Time and Children: New Findings
Screen Time and Children
Screen Time for Infants and Toddlers
Screen Sense for Children Birth – 3
Choosing Media Content for Young Children
Tap, Click, Read


 

Development and Learning – Birth to Kindergarten Entry

This information may help you to understand where your child might be on the continuum of learning and development, and guide you in supporting your child’s growth. These milestones/standards are used widely by early care and education providers in Hawaii.

Developmental Milestone References

CDC Developmental Milestones
Parent Guide

Hawai’i Early Learning and Development Standards

Early Learning and Development Standards


 

COVID-19 Resources

During this crisis, there are specific tips for individuals and families that will help you stay safe. The resources below provide guidance on everything from talking to your young ones about the novel (new) coronavirus, to good hygiene and social distancing recommendations, to self-care for parents and caregivers. We are providing a curated list of trusted resources below to help with COVID-19-specific information and guidance. Please also stay updated with government and trusted news sources.


Talking with Children About COVID-19

How to Talk with Kids About Coronavirus from New York Times
How to Talk to Your Kids About Coronavirus from PBS
Talking About COVID-19 from National Association of School Psychologists
Talking to Children about Coronavirus from CDC


What to Do as a Parent or Caregiver During COVID-19

More Play, Less Screen Time from Hechinger Report
Tips for Parents from Zero-to-Three, including:
• Talking about the Coronavirus
• Time at home
• Self-Care
Supporting Children’s Emotional Well-Being


Resources from Professional Organizations

National Association for the Education of Young Children
National Head Start Association
Child Mind Institute: Supporting Families During COVID-19
Center on the Developing Child at Harvard
Child Trends

Government Updates and Guidance

Federal Government Resources

Learn more about the novel coronavirus from the CDC
Handwashing Guidance
Checklist for Teachers and Parents


State Government Resources

Hawaii Department of Health COVID-19 Website


 

Last Updated: March 2020