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Early Choices Illinois Inclusion Initiative YouTube Channel

Early Choices Illinois Inclusion Initiative YouTube Channel

The Early CHOICES inclusion initiative promotes increasing high quality inclusive early care and education for each and every child birth to age 5. Our goal is to increase the number of children with disabilities receiving specialized services in regular early care and education settings.

High Quality Infant and Toddler Care: Supporting Children’s and Families’ Diverse Languages (Video)

For optimal development to take place during these critical first 3 years of life and beyond, educators of young children need to meet children where they are and foster their continued learning and development. This means caring for them in ways that respect the children’s and families’ diverse cultures, languages, lifestyles, preferences, abilities, learning styles, and needs. The Magical Years Early Childhood Center in Sunset Park – a socioeconomically and culturally/linguistically diverse neighborhood in southwest Brooklyn NY – exemplifies practices and policies that do this. Use these guiding questions to help facilitate discussion around this video.

Play in Early Childhood: The Role of Play in Any Setting

In this video, learn more about how play can foster children’s resilience to hardship, and how the complex interactions involved when children play help build their brains. Learn more about play and the science of early childhood development.

Landmark Study Strikes a Resounding Note for Inclusion

New research confirms that the best way to serve students with disabilities is in general ed—not siloed in special education classrooms.

Everyday People with Jack Johnson, Jason Mraz, Keb’ Mo’ (Video)

“Everyday People” features Turnaround Arts students alongside their Turnaround Artists including Jack Johnson, Jason Mraz, Paula Abdul, Misty Copeland, Elizabeth Banks, Keb’ Mo, Forest Whitaker, and many more performing this timely song by Sly and the Family Stone. This video was created to inspire the idea that all children deserve access to the arts in school and that the arts have the power to create change. 

The Truth About Diversity in Schools (Video)

In this recording, Dr. Kristie Pretti-Frontczak discusses why presuming competence is necessary to address the diversity of the modern classroom, how our intentions can lead to ableist practices, why the dominant culture perpetuates ableist practices and exclusion vs. inclusion, and how to move away from a medical model.

Assume I That I Can! (Video)

This short video produced in honor of World Down Syndrome Day brilliantly illustrates myths and stereotypes that can limit the potential of people with Down Syndrome and people with disabilities in general!

To learn more about this topic see the article by CBS News that describes the background behind the video: Viral Ad Challenges Perceptions of Down Syndrome (Video)

Mindfulness with Young Children (Video)

Yoga, meditation, and other mindfulness practices can have powerful effects on children’s ability to self-regulate, interact with their peers, and attend to school.

In this video, mindfulness expert Dr. Martha Goldstein-Schultz, preschool teachers Emily Grogan and Amy Figueroa, and 3rd grade teacher Erin Trudeau describe how to build simple mindfulness practices into the school day.

Supporting Social and Emotional Development, Video Collection

Eastern Connecticut University has developed research based videos  supporting social and emotional development in early learning and care settings.

4-year-old has heart-to-heart with his mom about how to process his feelings (Video)

This kid is wise beyond his years.