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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!

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.
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!
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.
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.
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.

Start Your Search--Resource Library

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Start Your Search--Resource Library *

Sort quickly through the hundreds of available resources by using the filter tool on the left to populate the specific resources you need!

Kadisha Conteh 4/10/26 Kadisha Conteh 4/10/26

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

Kadisha Conteh 4/10/26 Kadisha Conteh 4/10/26

Outdoor Play for Toddlers Through a Teacher's Eyes: What I've Learned From Two Decades Teaching Toddlers

https://www.communityplaythings.com/resources/articles/outdoor-play-for-toddlers
This insightful piece offers a teacher's perspective on the power of nature-based learning for toddlers. It outlines how intentional environments and flexible routines allow children to explore their curiosity, develop sensory awareness, and find emotional regulation through the great outdoors.

Organization/Author: Sara Ruiz, Community Playthings

Type of Resource: Article

Publication Date: February 2025

Kadisha Conteh 4/10/26 Kadisha Conteh 4/10/26

Infant and Toddler Spaces

https://www.communityplaythings.com/resources/literature/infant-toddler-spaces
Design your own infant and toddler room with these guidelines for developmentally appropriate spaces.

Organization/Author: Community Playthings

Type of Resource: Report

Publication Date: unknown

Kadisha Conteh 4/7/26 Kadisha Conteh 4/7/26

Creating a Flexible Learning Environment-A Community Playthings Case Study: CRT's Heritage Child Development Center, Hartford, CT

https://www.communityplaythings.com/resources/videos/case-study-crt-heritage
This resource explores how the Heritage Child Development Center utilizes modular "Roomscapes" furniture to create adaptable environments for infants and toddlers. It demonstrates practical strategies for balancing rapid developmental needs with strict licensing requirements for visibility and furniture stability, offering a model for maintaining a dynamic yet safe early learning space.

Organization/Author: Community Playthings

Type of Resource: Video

Publication Date: unknown

Kadisha Conteh 4/7/26 Kadisha Conteh 4/7/26

Rocking and Rolling. Sharing Our Calm: The Role of Coregulation in the Infant-Toddler Classroom

https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/yc/summer2024/rocking-and-rolling

This article explores coregulation, the essential process where adults "share their calm" to help infants and toddlers manage emotions they cannot yet regulate themselves. It suggests that educators must first maintain their own well-being through mindfulness to provide the sensitive, predictable responses that form the foundation for a child's future self-regulation and social success.

Organization/Author: Rebecca Parlakian, 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

Kadisha Conteh 4/7/26 Kadisha Conteh 4/7/26

Rocking and Rolling. Using Materials Creatively to Enhance Toddler Learning Environments

https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/yc/fall2024/rocking-and-rolling

This article highlights how educators boost toddler engagement by following children’s interests and using "loose parts"—low-cost, open-ended materials like nature finds and repurposed household items. It suggests that replacing expensive, single-use toys with versatile, family-donated materials fosters deeper problem-solving and agency while creating a sustainable learning space that is culturally reflective of a child’s home.

Organization/Author: Erin Skaggs and Janelle Jamero, 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

Kadisha Conteh 3/2/25 Kadisha Conteh 3/2/25

Routines-Based Planning for Infants and Toddlers

Routines-Based Planning for Infants and Toddlers
The purpose of this module is to provide trainers and participants with information about using typical routines as the context for assessment and planning for infants and toddlers with disabilities. The module describes the practice of Routines-Based Assessment and Planning, the associated benefits, and step-by-step guidance for implementing routines-based assessment and planning.

Organization/Author: Head Start Center for Inclusion
Type of Resource: Training

Publication Date: Unknown

Kadisha Conteh 2/12/25 Kadisha Conteh 2/12/25

Rocking and Rolling. Promoting Inclusion in Infant and Toddler Settings

Rocking and Rolling, edited by Rebecca Parlakian and her colleagues from ZERO to THREE, focuses on supporting infants, toddlers, and their families. Each column offers instructional insights and suggestions that are grounded in research yet presented through real-life examples.

Organization/Author: Rebecca Parlakian, Young Children, NAEYC
Type of Resource: Article

Publication Date: 2021

Kadisha Conteh 2/12/25 Kadisha Conteh 2/12/25

Teacher Time Series: The Joy of Teaching and Learning with Infants and Toddlers

These video episodes highlight the joy of teaching and learning with infants, toddlers and their families:

Joyful and Engaging Environments for Infants and Toddlers
Plan, Observe, Tinker, and Teach with Infants and Toddlers
Highly Individualized Teaching with Infants and Toddlers

Organization/Author: Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC)
Type of Resource: Videos

Publication Date: Unknown

Kadisha Conteh 2/12/25 Kadisha Conteh 2/12/25

Embedded Learning Opportunities for Infants and Toddlers

The purpose of this module is to provide trainers and participants with information about Embedded Learning Opportunities for Infants and Toddlers. Other common terms that refer to this practice include “activity-based intervention,” “naturalistic instruction,” and “incidental teaching.” This training module provides examples and suggestions for using embedded learning opportunities (ELOs) in inclusive, home-based family child care, and center-based early care and education settings.This set of materials includes presentation slides, presenter notes, and related handouts.

Organization/Author: Head Start Center for Inclusion
Type of Resource: Training

Publication Date: Unknown

Kadisha Conteh 2/12/25 Kadisha Conteh 2/12/25

Curriculum Modifications for Infants and Toddlers

Curriculum modifications are changes to the environment, activity, or materials that promote infant or toddler participation in planned activities, interactions, and routines. This set of materials includes presentation slides, presenter notes, and related handouts.

Organization/Author: Head Start Center for Inclusion
Type of Resource: Training

Publication Date: Unknown

Kadisha Conteh 2/12/25 Kadisha Conteh 2/12/25

Brain Building in Process: Resources for Early Learning Set of Professional Development Trainings for Birth-33 Months

These five engaging, content-rich, video-based trainings are organized by age. Take the online 45-minute self-paced version, or download the Facilitator’s Guide to lead family child-care and center- and school-based educators in a 1.5–2 hour training. Topics include:

The Roots of Early Learning
Supporting Young Infants’ Learning
Supporting Older Infants’ Learning
Supporting Young Toddlers’ Learning
Supporting Older Toddlers’ Learning

Organization/Author: Massachusetts Department of Early Education (EEC)

Type of Resource: Trainings

Publication Date: Unknown