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Tools for Engaging Early Learners

So much development and growth happens in the first five years of a child’s life, and parents, caregivers, and early learning and care providers are critical partners in their children’s learning.

Boston Children’s Museum’s Tools for Tiny Hands, Me, You, We, and Powerful Playtimes are multilingual resources for children ages birth to 5 and the adults in their lives to develop and practice some of the essential skills they need for success in school and life. Each set of tested resources includes family activity sheets and how-to videos for caregivers.

  • Tools for Tiny Hands – from ripping and sticking tape to building with cups, Tools for Tiny Hands invites young children ages 2 to 5 and their caregivers to practice their fine motor control and coordination in simple, yet fun ways.
  • Me, You, We – using playdough, finger paints, puppets, blocks, and more, Me, You, We invites young children ages 2 to 5 and their caregivers to practice identifying and managing feelings, learning about others, following directions, taking turns, and problem-solving.
  • Powerful Playtimes – play is the best way for children to develop and grow. Boston Children’s Museum and Horizons for Homeless Children created the Powerful Playtimes resources to share ideas for simple things caregivers can do to help children ages birth to 5 use play to build important skills that they need to thrive.

Developed with input from community partners, these resources were originally designed to be used in playgroups, but all educators are welcome to incorporate these resources into their own programs and settings. And families are welcome to explore them on their own too!

Tools for Tiny Hands and Me, You, We were funded by a grant from Boston Children’s Collaborative for Community Health.

Thanks to a grant from Eastern Bank Foundation, Powerful Playtimes was co-created in partnership with Horizons for Homeless Children.

So much development and growth happens in the first five years of a child’s life. Parents, caregivers, and early learning and care providers are critical partners in children’s learning.

Tools for Tiny Hands and Me, You, We are multilingual resources designed by Boston Children’s Museum for children ages 2 to 5 and the adults in their lives. These resources were specifically designed to help caregivers support children in developing and practicing some of the essential skills they need for success in school and life. Each set of tested resources includes family activity sheets (available in 10 languages) and how-to videos for caregivers.

  • Tools for Tiny Handsfrom ripping and sticking tape to building with cups, Tools for Tiny Hands invites very young children and their caregivers to practice their fine motor control and coordination in simple, yet fun ways.
  • Me, You, Weusing playdough, finger paints, puppets, blocks, and more, Me, You, We invites very young children and their caregivers to practice identifying and managing feelings, learning about others, following directions, taking turns, and problem-solving.

Developed with input from community-based educators and librarians, these resources were originally designed to be used in playgroups, but all educators are welcome to incorporate them into their own programs and settings. And families are welcome to explore them on their own too!

Tools for Tiny Hands and Me, You, We were funded by a grant from Boston Children’s Collaborative for Community Health.