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Professional Standards & Competencies Resource Library
The Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators outline the essential knowledge, skills, and practices that are foundational to high-quality early childhood education. These standards define what early childhood educators should know and be able to do in order to support the learning and development of young children from birth through age 8. They serve as a guiding framework for professional development, practice, and evaluation within the field of early childhood education.
Understanding and implementing these standards is crucial for educators as they help ensure the delivery of equitable, inclusive, and high-quality education that promotes the well-being and success of all children. By adhering to these standards, educators also contribute to the profession's commitment to continuous improvement and accountability.
Please note that while the collection of resources has been organized and tagged according to the Professional Standards and Competencies, only the most applicable competencies have been prioritized for searching and tagging purposes.
For NAEYC resources in the library, you can find policies related to reproducing, distributing, or otherwise using content here. For all other resources, please follow appropriate practices for using/citing sources.
Directions for Using the Professional Standards and Competencies Resource Library
Check out the resource library tutorial here!
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The PS&Cs Resource Library allows you to peruse ALL of the many resources available (by default) or you can utilize the provided filter and narrow down your search to target specific resources.
Check out the resource library tutorial for more info.
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By using the filtering categories, you are able to narrow your search to particular professional standards, one or more of the 22 key competencies, various ECE topics, a variety of age ranges, specific types of resources such as articles or videos or even find resources available in languages other than English.
The robust filters even allow you to choose multiple choices across categories or within the same category to further narrow your search!
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Once you have opened the various filter categories provided in the filter tool, you will notice that “all” is highlighted and checked in each category by default. This means the filter tool will not filter out any of those options within that category. If you wish to narrow your search, you simply click on one or more of the other options within the various filtering categories. Clicking will check that option. Checked options will be utilized for your search!
To remove an option, simply click it again to remove the check from the checkbox.
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The search feature is similar to any other search engine on a website. It can be used for a specific key word or phrase. Although the search may be helpful and is provided, the more robust filter tool may ultimately be more helpful in focusing and narrowing your search for resources.
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Naturally, broken links will occur. Sometimes the resource has been moved to a new web address and other times it has been temporarily or permanently removed. We welcome you to report any broken links you find here. We will do our best to replace the link when possible or remove the resource if it is no longer available.
**As of Feb. 2025, certain webpages and resources, particularly from agencies/organizations/projects that receive federal funds, have been at least temporarily removed in order to comply with federal mandates related to the Trump Administration’s Executive Orders. We will continue to monitor these resource links and update them if and when new links are available.
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Sort quickly through the hundreds of available resources by using the filter tool on the left to populate the specific resources you need!
Code of Ethics for Early Childhood Educators Position Statement (full document & related resources)
Code of Ethics for Early Childhood Educators | NAEYC
Along with core knowledge, skills, values, and dispositions, early childhood educators who work in homes, centers, and schools have professional, ethical responsibilities. The “Code of Ethics for Early Childhood Educators” outlines the essential ethical responsibilities for the early childhood education profession. It speaks to a set of professional ethics—the moral responsibilities that go beyond personal beliefs—that guide ECE workplace decision making and behavior. This link access the full position statement along with other related code of ethics resources and supplements. (Available in English, Spanish, and Chinese)
Organization/Author: NAEYC
Type of Resource: Position Statement
Publication Date: 2025
The Importance of Art to the Development of the Whole Child- Why Children Need to Experience Art
This article argues that art should be about the process, not a final "cute" product. By replacing directed crafts with open-ended materials, teachers help children develop critical thinking, self-expression, and physical skills without the pressure to follow adult instructions.
Organization/Author: Diane Kashin, Community Playthings
Type of Resource: Article
Publication Date: October 2022
Toddlers as Investigators: Understanding Emergent Curriculum
https://www.communityplaythings.com/resources/articles/toddlers-as-investigators
This article defines emergent curriculum as a responsive approach where teachers use "active listening" and observation to turn toddler curiosities into learning opportunities. By moving away from predetermined scripts and toward child-led inquiries—like pouring, dumping, or mixing—educators foster autonomy and partner with toddlers in their rapid developmental growth.
Organization/Author: Melissa Pinkham, Community Playthings
Type of Resource: Article
Publication Date: May 2023
The Ordinary Magic of Resilience
https://www.communityplaythings.com/resources/articles/the-ordinary-magic-of-resilience
This article explores how fairy tales and imaginative play serve as powerful tools for building "ordinary magic"—the resilience children need to overcome toxic stress and adversity. By integrating classic stories into classroom centers, educators can foster the four key protective factors of resilience: strong relationships, initiative, executive function, and cultural context.
Organization/Author: Stephanie Goloway, Community Playthings
Type of Resource: Article
Publication Date: May 2023
Where the Magic Happens: Taking Your Play-Based Program Outdoors
https://www.communityplaythings.com/resources/articles/where-the-magic-happens
This article emphasizes the physical, mental, and developmental benefits of transitioning play-based learning to the outdoors, regardless of the setting or weather. It provides a practical framework for educators to shift their mindset from "supervisors" to "facilitators" by using proper gear, flexible scheduling, and intentional activity planning.
Organization/Author: Christina Davis, Community Playthings
Type of Resource: Article
Publication Date: June 2023
Following Children's Lead with the Project Approach Inspired Learning for Children and Adults
https://www.communityplaythings.com/resources/articles/following-childrens-lead
This article explores how the Project Approach fosters in-depth, child-led learning through collaborative investigations like the "Rocks Project" in Kansas City. By observing children's natural curiosities and engaging community experts, educators can co-construct meaningful, standards-based curriculum that enhances intellectual development and family engagement.
Organization/Author: Karrie Snider, Della Judie, Carol Bolz, Community Playthings
Type of Resource: Article
Publication Date: August 2023
Memory: The Heart of all Learning-The Importance of Enactive and Iconic Memory for Young Children
https://www.communityplaythings.com/resources/articles/memory-the-heart-of-all-learning
Grounded in Jerome Bruner’s theories, this piece explores how young children use their bodies and mental images to store and retrieve information. The author cautions educators against "jumpstarting" formal schooling, emphasizing that mastery of physical and spatial memory is a prerequisite for successful linguistic and logical development.
Organization/Author: Francis Wardle, Community Playthings
Type of Resource: Article
Publication Date: August 2023
Benefits of Clay Play-Understanding the Exploration Stage of Children
https://www.communityplaythings.com/resources/articles/benefits-of-clay-play
This article highlights the importance of the "exploration stage" in art, urging educators to prioritize sensory discovery over final products. By introducing clay as a responsive, earthy medium, Sally Haughey illustrates how simple actions—like pounding, piling, and rolling—build fine motor strength, cognitive problem-solving, and a deep, tactile connection to the natural world.
Organization/Author: Sally Haughey, Community Playthings
Type of Resource: Article
Publication Date: September 2023
The Teacher's Role in the Emergent Curriculum
https://www.communityplaythings.com/resources/articles/the-teachers-role-in-the-emergent-curriculum
This article describes the teacher's role in an emergent curriculum as a dynamic mix of scholar, designer, project manager, storyteller, and evaluator. Instead of just following a script, teachers use their knowledge of child development to design meaningful spaces, document students' progress, and adjust the environment based on children's changing interests. This approach ensures that learning is a collaborative journey where the teacher guides and deepens the child's natural exploration of the world
Organization/Author: Shira B. Kulok, Community Playthings
Type of Resource: Article
Publication Date: April 2025
Incorporating Literacy and Math Skills in the Emergent Curriculum- A director's thoughts on how to cultivate joyful, child-led learning
https://www.communityplaythings.com/resources/articles/incorporating-literacy-and-math-skills-in-the-emergent-curriculum
This article explores the emergent curriculum approach, where educators build lessons around children's natural curiosities and real-world observations rather than pre-set workbooks. It demonstrates how teachers can integrate core math and literacy skills into student-led inquiries—such as building skyscrapers or observing winter ducks—to create authentic, lasting learning experiences.
Organization/Author: Meghan Murray, Community Playthings
Type of Resource: Article
Publication Date: May 2025
Watch and Wonder: The Life Cycle of a Monarch Butterfly Video
This resource highlights the captivating power of nature in the classroom through the life cycle of monarch butterflies. By observing the metamorphosis from egg to butterfly, students and families engage in a shared educational experience that fosters deep curiosity and strengthens the home-school connection.
Organization/Author: Community Playthings
Type of Resource: Video
Publication Date: unknown
The Important Role of the Teacher in Block Play: Supporting Deeper Engagement and Learning in the Block Area Video
https://www.communityplaythings.com/resources/videos/the-important-role-of-the-teacher-in-block-play
What is the role of the adult in block play? Watch and listen as experienced educators from Bank Street, City & Country School, and Caltech discuss the important role of the teacher in supporting, scaffolding, and guiding block play.
Organization/Author: Community Playthings
Type of Resource: Video
Publication Date: unknown
Foundations of Learning: Building STEM Skills Video
https://www.communityplaythings.com/resources/videos/foundations-of-learning-building-stem-skills
In this 3-minute video, Hal Melnick, Susan Wood, and Yvonne Smith explain why every school that is serious about STEM education needs to have a strong block play component in their curriculum.
Organization/Author: Community Playthings
Type of Resource: Video
Publication Date: unknown
From the Pages of TYC. Partnering with Families to Support Young Children’s Social and Emotional Development Through Picture Books
https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/yc/summer2024/partnering-with-families
This article explores how educators can partner with families to use picture books as primary tools for nurturing social-emotional skills like empathy, self-regulation, and perseverance. It suggests that by providing lending libraries with discussion guides and hosting interactive literacy workshops, teachers help families navigate challenging topics while strengthening the parent-child bond.
Organization/Author: Alison Hooper, Young Children, NAEYC
Type of Resource: Article
Publication Date: Summer 2024
Topic of issue of YC: Self-Regulation and Executive Function: Responsive and Informed Practices for Early Childhood
Engaging Families of Multilingual Learners: Using Families’ Stories to Link Classroom Content with Children’s Funds of Knowledge
https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/yc/fall2024/engaging-multilingual-learner-families
This article explores how educators can use simple technology, like QR codes and tablets, to bring families' "funds of knowledge" and home languages directly into the classroom curriculum. It suggests that by having families record and share personal stories related to class themes, teachers create a more inclusive environment that values a child's heritage and strengthens their language development. This approach fosters a deeper, reciprocal partnership between home and school while making learning more meaningful and engaging for multilingual learners.
Organization/Author: Alexandra Figueras-Daniels and Bernice Vasquez, Young Children, NAEYC
Type of Resource: Article
Publication Date: Fall 2024
Topic of issue of YC: Informed and Guided by Context: Strengths-Based Teaching and Learning
Child Development and Early Education-Field Experience: An Open Educational Resource (OER)
Child Development and Early Education-Field Experience: An Open Educational Resource (OER)
Open Educational Resources (OER) are teaching and learning materials that you may freely use and reuse at no cost, and without needing to ask permission. This is a collection of Field Experience Skill Evaluation rubrics used to evaluate students in early childhood teacher preparation field experiences. A collection of field experience documents created to provide information and support to students, faculty, and community partners is also included.
Organization/Author: Lansing Community College Child Development and Early Education Program
Type of Resource: Open Educational Resource (OER)
Publication Date: 2023
Strategies to Increase Vocabulary in Young Children Webinar
Strategies to Increase Vocabulary in Young Children Webinar
This edWebinar identifies the most effective strategies for teaching vocabulary based on the research documented in the article “Developing Early Literacy: Report of the National Early Literacy Panel” (2008) and supported by the book Early Childhood Literacy: The National Early Literacy Panel and Beyond (Shanahan & Lonigan, 2012). Viewers explore myths of vocabulary instruction and expand their knowledge of research-based practices, including tiered vocabulary instruction. Note: registration is required to view webinar
Organization/Author: Claudia Castillo-Magallanez, edWeb Webinar
Type of Resource: Webinar
Publication Date: 2024
A Multimodal Approach to Early Literacy with Fun Foundations Webinar
A Multimodal Approach to Early Literacy with Fun Foundations Webinar
This is an enriching edWebinar that explores an evidence-based approach to literacy instruction, integrating multiple modalities for optimal learning outcomes. Our expert presenters guide you through a dynamic and blended methodology designed to seamlessly infuse the Science of Reading into developmentally appropriate early learning experiences. Note: registration is required to view webinar
Organization/Author: Joy Allcock and Meghann Hickey, edWeb Webinar
Type of Resource: Webinar
Publication Date: 2023
3 Simple Approaches to Differentiate Phonics Instruction in Any K-2 Classroom Webinar
3 Simple Approaches to Differentiate Phonics Instruction in Any K-2 Classroom Webinar
In this edWebinar, the presenters share how and why differentiated phonics instruction helps students move ahead more quickly in their reading and writing. They cover three different models for making differentiation practical and easy. Teachers walk away with a clear roadmap for assessing students’ needs, choosing or creating differentiated materials, and finding time for targeted, needs-based phonics practice. All viewers get access to a diagnostic phonics assessment to help them put into practice the concepts covered during the edWebinar. Note: registration is required to view webinar
Organization/Author: Alison Ryan and Ingrid Davis, edWeb Webinar
Type of Resource: Webinar
Publication Date: 2022
Teaching Numeracy to Young Children: A Responsive and Differentiated Approach Webinar
Teaching Numeracy to Young Children: A Responsive and Differentiated Approach Webinar
This webinar presented a research-supported scope and sequence for teaching young children concepts related to number sense. Brian Mowry reviewed engaging whole group instructional content and activities appropriate for all developmental levels represented within one classroom. He discussed how to differentiate within small groups and individualize instruction following the scope and sequence presented in the above topics so that each child can practice at a level commensurate to their skill set and development. Note: registration is required to view webinar
Organization/Author: Brian Mowry, edWeb Webinar
Type of Resource: Webinar
Publication Date: 2016
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