The Windows of Opportunity project involved the initial development of an innovative, interest-based curriculum for Early Head Start (EHS) home-visiting program staff, children, and families. Subsequently, through an “expansion grant” project, the curriculum was amplified to encompass a culturally responsive Spanish-language version. The expansion phase also included modification and refinement of training modules and materials for EHS program managers and home-visiting staff, and evaluation of various components of the curriculum through extensive field testing. The project was carried out in partnership with Early Head Start home-based programs nationally and was made possible through funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (grant numbers 90YF0054 and 90YD0253). The resulting curriculum helps EHS staff to build the competence and confidence of EHS parents to support their young children’s learning, with positive outcomes in children’s behavioral and developmental growth.
Strengthening Early Child Development Through Everyday Activities
The multimedia and printed Windows of Opportunity parent materials are free download here, are designed to be shared with families participating in a home-based early intervention programs. With Windows of Opportunity/Ventanas Abiertas a las Oportunidades, parents learn to identify their children’s interests and follow their lead in day-to-day activities in ways that make them powerful learning opportunities. By encouraging infants, toddlers, and preschoolers to explore their special interests, parents help them practice things they can already do and try to do new things. These are extremely beneficial ways to learn! As the project model to the right illustrates, the potent combination of child interests, everyday activities, and responsive parenting results in significant child and parent benefits. We invite you to download and use the PDF parent materials below: |
You can use our parent workbook, Window to Wide-Open Learning to identify your child's interest and use them to make a plan for offering day-to-day home and community activities your child is sure to will enjoy. English Download Spanish Download |
On My Way: Journal of a Child's First Three Years is a keepsake "baby book" that offers a charming way for moms and dads to record, reflect on, and promote their young child's developing interests and learning milestones. English Download Spanish Download |
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We use our illustrated lap games and finger plays booklet to inspire fun and exciting play with your baby. This sort of parent-child play is wonderful for developing early social and language skills. English Download Spanish Download |
Ready! Set! Grow! This chart provides a fun way to record advances in your child's physical growth while prompting further focus on his or her very special interests and their role in learning. English Download Spanish Download |
Windows of Opportunity Interest pages present ideas for how parents can provide their children opportunities to experience particular interests in a variety of effective and appealing ways. (English Download) |
(Spanish Download) |
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Animals | Lap Games-Finger Plays | Animales | Juegos de Regazo y Dedos | ||
Balls | Music | Pelotas | Música | ||
Books | Outdoors | Libros | Aire Libre | ||
Cars | People | Autos | Interactuar con las Personas | ||
Climbing | Pretend Play | Trepar | Imaginación | ||
Dancing | Put In & Out | Bailar | Poner y Sacar | ||
Dolls | Sand | Las Muñecas | Arena | ||
Drawing-Writing | Sounds | Dibujar y “Escribir” | Sonidos | ||
Faces | Swinging | Caras | Hamacarse | ||
Food & Eating | Throwing & Dropping | Comida y Comer | Arrojar y Dejar Caer | ||
Hands & Feet | Water | Panos y Pies | Agua | ||
Jumping | Saltar |
Evidence is In! handouts describe and illustrate the characteristics of early childhood best practices and gives guidance on how to use the practices. (English Download) |
(Spanish Download) |
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Heart to Heart | De corazón a corazón | |
I Did It! | ¡Lo hice yo! | |
Keys to Unlocking Social Skills | Las claves para mejorar el desenvolvimiento social | |
Play's the Thing! | La súper hora de juegos para los bebés | |
Responsive Home Environments Promote Social Ease | El ambiente familiar interactivo | |
Sensitive Parenting Build Parent-Child Closeness | La crianza sensible | |
Sunny Days Ahead! | ¡El buen tiempo está cerca! | |
Playtime Plus for Babies | ¡El juego es lo más importante! | |
Tune In & Respond! | ¡Sintonízate y responde! | |
Weaving Wonderful Tales | ¡Vamos a tejer cuentos maravillosos! |
Interests Lead to Learning - Children learn best when they are doing something they’re interested in so knowing what a child likes to do and enjoys doing will help you facilitate a child’s learning. We'll explore personal and situational interests. SPANISH VERSION (Length - 13:40) |
Weaving Wonderful Tales- Shared reading is an interactive style of adult-child reading. In shared reading, the child is taught to gradually become the storyteller. SPANISH VERSION (Length - 11:20) |
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Tune In - Describes the three characteristics of a “tuned-in” adult-child interaction style. Discover how to boost a child’s development by consistently tuning in with these techniques. SPANISH VERSION (Length - 8:05) |
Setting the Scene for Social Ease - Discover how the people and things that take center stage in a young child's home influence early social and emotional development. SPANISH VERSION (Length - 10:49) |
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Close To You - Interacting in ways that build strong parent-child relationships. Discover the ways parents can strengthen the parent/child relationship in their everyday interactions with their children. SPANISH VERSION (Length - 11:00) |
I Made It Fun Because I Made It Happen- Describes the social emotional benefits of early child learning opportunities.
Early child learning is understanding the connection between what a child does (his behavior) and what happens (an interesting effect). SPANISH VERSION (Length - 11:40) |