1.1: Early Childhood Learning Standards

Early childhood educators use early learning standards to guide their work with young children. Early learning standards provide educators with a framework for what children should know and be able to do at various stages of their early development.

In addition to the early learning standards for your state, you may want to review the entire Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework paying particular attention to the language and literacy domain. The framework is similar to the Arkansas Early Learning Standards in that they both refer to guiding principles, developmental domains, sub-domains, and developmental progressions.

The Head Start ELOF has age level indicators showing what a child should be able to do beginning at 36 months and at the end of 60 months. The Arkansas Child Development and Early Standards show developmental progressions.

Exercise \(\PageIndex{1}\)

Using your state's early learning standards, such as the Arkansas Child Development and Early Learning Standards,(opens in new window) can help you plan, implement, and assess high-quality early childhood learning experiences to ensure all children have the opportunity to reach their full potential.

Review your state’s early learning standards. Can you identify which standards relate to language and literacy learning?

The Arkansas Child Development and Early Learning Standards is divided into 9 interrelated Learning Strands;

1. Social and Emotional Development

2. Cognitive Development

3. Physical Development and Health

4. Language Development

5. Emergent Literacy

6. Mathematical Thinking

7. Science and Technology

8. Social Studies

9. Creativity and Aesthetics

The standards in Learning Strands 4: Language Development and 5: Emergent Literacy will be the most applicable to language and literacy development.

---

The National Association for the Education of Young Children, referred to as the NAEYC provides support for early childhood edication. Learn more about NAEYC standards by visiting the NAEYC website.

---

---