ESDM Online
Welcome to ESDM Online, a resource for parents and providers eager to discover ways to help children connect, communicate, and learn. Here, you will find examples, tips, activities, the latest research findings, videos, and much more to support your goals as a parent or provider. Join the community and become part of this mission to create positive learning experiences for children.
- Giving children opportunities to practice their skills through play and everyday activities.
- Creating a welcoming, accessible and nonjudgemental space to hear about and share ideas.
- Helping children feel calm, safe and supported.
Click the video for a brief welcome message!
Connect, Communicate, and Learn
Find out how to use tips from the ESDM for early social-communication skills important to life-long learning, behavior, and health with your child or with families whom you support in an early childhood learning environment.
In this Quick Tip, Laurie shares a data sheet for a child with intervention objectives and demonstrates how she sets it up and uses it during activities to teach and track the child's progress across learning opportunities. See the data sheet handout for a copy of the template. Happy playing and learning!
Read monthly research about intervention outcomes for children with or at risk of autism; coaching supports for their families; and/or family-centered, culturally inclusive coaching tools to help early childhood professionals support families. Each monthly article is publicly available for free access.
Click the article (to the right) to read more on how the authors define the journey and transformative stages that ABA has undergone from its original conception of the seven defining principles to reassess how they align with current practice.
"As behavior analysts, our job is not to change behavior based on neurotypical norms, or to target behaviors solely because they are associated with autism. Our job is to work in partnership with our clients, some of whom are autistic people and their families, to help them achieve goals that are important to them and learn behaviors that are valued by them."
This Play of the Month shares play ideas with a salad spinner. No longer just for washing fruits and vegetables, this kitchen tool can spark fun, creativity, and learning for children. See below for activity ideas and learning goals linked to the ESDM Curriculum Checklist items to help you discover the play level that best suits your child or the children and families you support in early learning environments.
Pay attention to what children like (or seem curious about) and follow their lead as long as you are a part of the action, too. Remember, the most important thing is for children to have fun doing this with you! Fun means engagement and that excites children's brains and bodies for meaningful learning to happen.
Simple play actions that encourage children to explore, use their senses, and move their bodies:
-
Put toys, balls, puzzle pieces, blocks, squeeze food pouch caps, animal figurines or pretty much anything that fits in the salad spinner and watch it spin.
-
String pipe cleaners, scarves, napkins, straws, dried spaghetti, or other materials that will fit through the slots of the basket.
- Add water to splash around the basket as it spins.
- A favorite snack that won't crumble could be spun inside the salad spinner.
-
Pour in soap or bubble bath to make bubbles as the water spins around.
-
Place a paper plate inside the strainer, then add paint and spin to create unique patterns. Experiment with additional colors, shaving cream, or glitter for extra creativity.
-
Fill a container with water, sand, or a dry material like beans or pasta shells, hiding small toys or objects inside. Place a strainer in a sink or box, then pour the water or material from the container into the strainer to uncover the hidden treasures.
Imaginary play that encourages children to make-believe and role-play:
-
Pretend the salad spinner is a washing machine to wash and dry clothes for dolls, stuffed animals, or yours and the child's.
-
Pretend the salad spinner is an amusement park ride, merry-go-round, or spaceship. You can put pretend people and animals inside the spinner and give them a ride.
-
Imagine it's a machine that mixes secret ingredients for a magical candy recipe. "Spin the dial" to create colorful treats using pretend play food or craft materials. Next turn it into a magical cauldron, mixing up enchanted potions with pretend ingredients like glitter dust and imaginary frog legs. Or an alternative is mixing up ingredients to feed customers at the restaurant.
-
Spin the salad spinner to "charge up" superhero powers before flying off to save the day or race cars, revving up the engine before zooming across the finish line. Try different speeds to activate different abilities!
