Welcome to the…
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
-
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.
-
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
*
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!
Building Relationships with Families: Planning to Serve the Diego Family
Building Relationships with Families: Planning to Serve the Diego Family
The Diego family story allows participants to consider the family's cultural values and beliefs, experiences, and successes; and to think about how this relates to their work with young children with disabilities and their families in their communities.
Organization/Author: Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC)
Type of Resource: Video and Facilitators Guide
Publication Date: 2007
Cultural Perspectives on Child Development
It all begins with an idea.
Cultural Perspectives on Child Development
Real Families brings you stories of modern day family life from around the world through the eyes of children, parents, and parenting experts.
Organization/Author: Real Families
Type of Resource: Video
Publication Date: 2018
Individualism vs Collectivism: Why it Matters in the Classroom Video
It all begins with an idea.
Individualism vs Collectivism: Why it Matters in the Classroom Video
A video that explores individualism and collectivism, and why it matters in the classroom.
Organization/Author: Tolentino Teaching
Type of Resource: Video
Publication Date: unknown
TED Talk: What do Babies Think
It all begins with an idea.
TED Talk: What do Babies Think
"Babies and young children are like the R&D division of the human species," says psychologist Alison Gopnik. Her research explores the sophisticated intelligence-gathering and decision-making that babies are really doing when they play.
Organization/Author: Alison Gopnik, TED Talk
Type of Resource: Video
Publication Date: 2011
TEDTalk: What we learn before we're born
It all begins with an idea.
TEDTalk: What we learn before we're born
When does learning begin? Answer: Before we are born. In this 20 minute Ted Talk, science writer Annie Murphy Paul talks through new research that shows how much we learn in the womb -- from the lilt of our native language to our soon-to-be-favorite foods.
Organization/Author: Annie Murphy Paul, TED Talk
Type of Resource: Video
Publication Date: 2011
How YOU Can Advocate for Early Learning
How YOU Can Advocate for Early Learning
This short video outlines ways to advocate for early learning.
Organization/Author: NAEYC
Type of Resource: Video
Publication Date: 2017
A Creative Adventure
This 13-minute video encourages classroom staff, teachers, and families to use visual and performing arts techniques to support learning and creative expression. Filmed in classrooms and home-based settings, the video demonstrates activities that allow children to use their imaginations and experience creative adventures.
Organization/Author: Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC)
Type of Resource: Video
Publication Date: 2024
Authentic Assessment in Early Intervention (0-3)
Authentic Assessment in Early Intervention (0-3)
Physical therapist Megan Klish Fibbe describes and illustrates how authentic assessment practices enhance her early intervention work with children and their families, including the use of observation, conversations with families, and video.
Organization/Author: Results Matter Video Library, Colorado Department of Education
Type of Resource: video
Publication Date: unknown
Engaging Families with Video at Parent Teacher Conferences
It all begins with an idea.
Engaging Families with Video at Parent Teacher Conferences (Results Matter Video Library)
This 7:48 minute video describes and gives examples of how to engage families with video at a family conference.
Organization/Author: Results Matter Video Library, Colorado Department of Education
Type of Resource: video
Publication Date: unknown
The Voices of Children Documentary
The Voices of Children Documentary
“The Voices of Children” is a short documentary film created by an international team of educators and filmmakers, including John Nimmo. The 23 minute film is a call to action to create a more inclusive and complex conception of human rights through listening to and observing young children in diverse contexts around the globe. The film is available to families, educators, advocates, and policy-makers as a provocation to reflect, dialogue and take action. A Facilitator’s Guide is available.
Organization/Author: World Forum Foundation
Type of Resource: Video
Publication Date: 2017
Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in Action: The Early Years Film
Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in Action: The Early Years Film
The 48 minute film, Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in Action: The Early Years (48 minutes), produced by Debbie LeeKeenan and John Nimmo, features vignettes of anti-bias strategies in early childhood classrooms interspersed with teachers reflecting on their practice. By taking viewers into diverse early childhood classrooms, the film seeks to demonstrate the importance of teacher reflection on identity, context, and practice in anti-bias education and provides a much-needed resource for teacher education and professional development. A Discussion Guidebook (in English and Spanish) and extended vignettes are included.
Organization/Author: Louise Derman-Sparks, Debbie LeeKeenan, and John Nimmo
Type of Resource: Video
Publication Date: 2022
Additional Resources
