Birth to Age Three Years

RESOURCES FOR FREE LEARNING ACTIVITIES / GAMES (ONLINE OR FOR DOWNLOAD/PRINTING)

http://www.pbsparents.org
Target Age: 1-8 years

Description: The website contains information for parents about child development and early learning. Parents can also sign up for a free monthly newsletter.   Parents can learn more about PBS Kids and the free educational games and activities available there.

http://www.preschoolrainbow.org
Target Age: 2-5 years

Description: Gayle’s Preschool Rainbow provides free access to home activities for toddlers and preschoolers including indoor and outdoor fun activities, holiday crafts, alphabet themes, rhyme themes, book themes and other preschool links. The “Resource Room” provides additional access to materials for a $20.00 annual membership fee (or you can join for free for first year by submitting five ideas for the website.)

http://www.first-school.ws/INDEX.HTM
Target Age: 2-6 years

Description: First-School features free fun preschool lesson plans, educational early childhood activities, printable crafts, worksheets, calendar of events and other resources for children of preschool age.  The preschool crafts, lesson plans and activities are appropriate and adaptable for toddlers, preschoolers and kindergarten level (ages 2 to 6). 

http://www.lil-fingers.com/
Target Age: 1-3 years

Description: Lil’ Fingers, is a storybook site for toddlers with educational games, storybooks and printable coloring pages. The FREE toddler stories, activities & holiday sections are designed with bright colors & big buttons for little fingers.

http://mrnussbaum.com/prek/
Target Age: Toddler, Preschool and Kindergarten (ages 2-6 years)

Description: Students have free access to interactive learning games over a variety of topics   including literacy and math. History, science, and geography are also included as topics.  There are some links to free printables such as flash cards and worksheets.

http://therapyfunzone.net/blog/ot/fine-motor-skills
Target Age: 
Sorted by age categories:  baby, toddler, preschooler, elementary, middle school, high school and adult

Description:  A pediatric occupational therapist and mother blogs about fine and gross motor activities.  The site gives access to numerous free activities (with pictures) and downloads.  There is an online store to purchase additional items.  You can follow the blogger on Facebook or give your email address to subscribe to the mailing list.

http://earlyliteracycounts.blogspot.com/
Target Age:  Ages 0-5 Years

Description:  Room to Grow-Making Early Childhood Count–a blog by Tonya Wright-Early Literacy Counts.  This page contains literacy activities for infants, toddlers and preschoolers.  There are also learning links to other websites, playing to learn and using technology.

http://growingbookbybook.com/
Target Age:  Ages 0-7 Years

Description:  Access to books, reading ideas, writing ideas, projects and sign up for free newsletter to have resources sent to your email in-box.  Resources are organized by age groups:  babies, toddlers, preschoolers and beginning readers.

http://www.littlegiraffes.com/storyprops1.html
Target Age:  Ages 1-6 Years

Description:  This site has free downloads/templates for story props for flannel boards using popular books and nursery rhymes.

http://theimaginationtree.com/2013/09/40-fine-motor-skills-activities-for-kids.html
Target Age: Birth-School Age

Description: This site provides ideas for fine motor skills for babies, toddlers, preschoolers and school age children.

RESOURCES FOR FREE BOOKS (E-BOOKS ONLINE): BIRTH TO 3 YEARS

http://www.childrensbooksonline.org/library-pre-reader.htm
Target Age: Pre-Reader and Very Early Reader

Description: Children’s Books Online–the Rosetta Project–include thousands of illustrated books and is a volunteer-driven project. It has grown slowly since 1996 from the work of a single man and a handful of books, to a vibrant volunteer-driven organization publishing new books and translations every week. The group claims to have one of the largest online libraries of antique books.   This library is made possible by a grant from the John and Frances Beck Foundation. Many books are available in multiple languages.

http://www.kidsworldfun.com/ebooks.php
Target Age: Not Specified

Description:   This is a collection of free animated eBooks. These online eBooks touch various subjects and promise to make your child’s learning experience richer.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BOOKS: BIRTH TO 3 YEARS

http://www.scholastic.com/parents/books-and-reading/book-lists-and-recommendations/ages-0-2
Target Age: 0-2 years

Description: Book lists and recommended reading for ages 0-3. Scholastic and Parent and Child magazine provide this list.

http://www.preschoolrainbow.org/book-themes.htm
Target Age: Infant, Toddler, Preschooler

Description: Click on a theme to find a list of picture books related to the theme.

http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/notalists/ncb
Target Age: Birth through the 8th grade

Description: According to the ALSC Notable Children’s Books Committee manual, these categories loosely   represent the following:

Younger Readers – Preschool-grade 2 (age 7), including easy-to-read books
Middle Readers – Grades 3-5, ages 8-10
Older Readers – Grades 6-8, ages 11-14
All Ages – Has appeal and interest for children in all of the above age ranges. Each year a committee of the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) identifies the best of the best in children’s books. According to the Notables Criteria, “notable” is defined as: Worthy of note or notice, important, distinguished, outstanding. As applied to children’s books, notable should be thought to include books of especially commendable quality, books that exhibit venturesome creativity, and books of fiction, information, poetry and pictures for all age levels (birth through age 14) that reflect and encourage children’s interests in exemplary ways. (According to ALSC policy, the current year’s Newbery, Caldecott, Belpré, Sibert, Geisel, and Batchelder Award and Honor books automatically are added to the Notable Children’s Books list.