Early Childhood Resources
Nebraska Extension’s Early Childhood Resources provide comprehensive support for childcare providers, families, and educators committed to fostering healthy environments for young children. From breastfeeding support and nutrition guidance to outdoor play, physical activity, and professional development opportunities, our resources are designed to promote the well-being and growth of children statewide. Explore award-winning tools, research-based practices, and hands-on activities that empower providers and families to create nurturing, health-focused environments for the next generation.
Nebraska Breastfeeding Coalition
The Nebraska Breastfeeding Coalition promotes breastfeeding through education, advocacy, and collaboration to increase breastfeeding rates statewide. Their efforts aim to improve the health of Nebraskans by making breastfeeding the norm and supporting families and communities in the process.
MilkWorks
MilkWorks is a non-profit breastfeeding center providing compassionate care to help mothers meet feeding goals. Their knowledgeable staff offers personalized support for mothers and babies, focusing on the unique needs of each family, ensuring a positive breastfeeding experience.
Breastmilk Storage
Nebraska Child Care Licensing Regulations enforce stricter breastmilk storage guidelines for child care facilities than those recommended for home use. This document helps families and providers follow appropriate storage protocols to ensure safe and effective breastmilk handling in these settings.
Nutrition
Food Fun for Young Children
The UNL Food website offers resources on food, fitness, recipes, food safety, local foods, and Extension-supported programs. It provides educational materials, including free newsletters like Food Fun for Young Children, to help families and programs promote healthy habits and nutrition.
MyPlate
The USDA MyPlate.gov website offers tips for building healthy eating habits using the five food groups. The interactive platform provides resources and guidance to promote balanced nutrition for children and families. Free printables are available to support healthy eating initiatives.
NE Farm to Early Childhood
Farm to Preschool promotes local foods and hands-on activities like gardening and farm visits. Nebraska Harvest of the Month highlights a different specialty crop each month to educate children and families about healthy, local food choices. Additional toolkits are available.
NC State Natural Learning Initiative
The Natural Learning Initiative (NLI) emphasizes nature in children's daily experiences through design, research, and education. It supports communities in creating outdoor spaces for play, learning, and environmental education, fostering healthier and more stimulating environments for young children.
Nature Explore
Nature Explore helps integrate nature into children's learning through workshops, consultations, and resources. They support programs connecting children and families to the outdoors, offering tools to create engaging, nature-based educational experiences that enhance physical, cognitive, and social development.
World Forum Foundation
The World Forum Foundation offers educator and family toolkits in English, Spanish, and Arabic. Activities for children ages 3-8 focus on positive actions and outdoor experiences, helping families and early childhood programs work together to foster a greener, healthier world.
Physical Activity
Free Seasonal Physical Activity Packets
These downloadable resources assist early childhood programs in Nebraska with implementing Go NAPSACC physical activity best practices. Designed to meet key guidelines, they help providers create a physically active environment for young children, promoting health and wellness in early childhood education.
The Genius of Play
The Genius of Play offers expert advice and tips to help kids develop essential skills through play. Their website features activities designed to improve physical activity, promoting confidence, creativity, critical thinking, and overall development while fostering a love for learning through play.
SHAPE America
SHAPE America aims to prepare children for healthy, physically active lives. Their website offers activity ideas for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, with most available in Spanish. These resources help early childhood programs and families promote physical activity and well-being at an early age.
NE Extension Early Childhood Development
The Learning Child provides automatically accepted in-service hours online and onsite. They offer affordable programs and training. Resources are research-based and information in each program is based on research from faculty right here in Nebraska.
Penn State Extension Better Kid Care
Better Kid Care's distance education program assists childcare providers in obtaining research-based professional development and is accepted by NE for licensing requirements. They offer over a hundred on demand modules on a wide variety of topics.
NE Dept of Education - NDE Learning Network
Canvas is an interactive online learning platform which houses several free child care focused learning modules to help child care providers navigate the updated meal pattern. Topics covered include: Whole Grains, Meats and Meat Alternates, Serving Milk, Fruits and Vegetables, Serving Infants, Snacks, Breakfast, as well as support topics like Farm to Preschool, The Food Buying Guide, Family Style Dining, Introducing Solids, Physical Activity, and more!
Breastfeeding University
The Breastfeeding University, home to Carolina Global Breastfeeding Institute’s Online Classroom, offers evidence-based, up-to-date education in an interactive and user-friendly format. These free trainings will help learners to establish a working knowledge of the importance of breastfeeding and how to support mothers and families to meet their breastfeeding goals.
