Early Language Development
Tools and resources to promote multilingual children’s language development
Multilingual children learn and develop two or more languages as they navigate their home, community and early care and education (ECE) settings. Children’s experiences, environments, exposure to languages and opportunities to use language all play key roles in their early language development.
WIDA Early Years offers tools and resources to help ECE professionals plan equitable and engaging learning opportunities for young multilingual children. Learn more by exploring the links below.
Early Language Development Standards
The WIDA Early Language Development Standards, available for English and Spanish language development, are designed for use with children ages 2.5–5.5 years old and correspond to five domains of children’s development and learning: approaches to learning, language and communication development, cognition and general knowledge, physical well-being and motor development, and social and emotional development.
English
- Standard 1: Language of Social and Emotional Development
- Multilingual children communicate information, ideas, and concepts for learning and development in the area of social and emotional development
- Standard 2: Language of Early Language Development and Literacy
- Multilingual children communicate information, ideas, and concepts for learning and development in the content area of early language development and literacy
- Standard 3: Language of Mathematics
- Multilingual children communicate information, ideas, and concepts for learning and development in the content area of mathematics
- Standard 4: Language of Science
- Multilingual children communicate information, ideas, and concepts for learning and development in the content area of science
- Standard 5: Language of Social Studies
- Multilingual children communicate information, ideas, and concepts for learning and development in the content area of social studies
- Standard 6: Language of Physical Development
- Multilingual children communicate information, ideas, and concepts for learning and development in the content area of physical development
Spanish
- Estándar 1: El lenguaje del desarrollo social y emocional
- Niños multilingües comunican información, ideas y conceptos para el aprendizaje y el desarrollo en el área de desarrollo social y emocional
- Estándar 2: El lenguaje del desarrollo del idioma y alfabetización temprana
- Niños multilingües comunican información, ideas y conceptos para el aprendizaje y el desarrollo en el área de contenido del idioma y alfabetización temprana
- Estándar 3: El lenguaje de las matemáticas
- Niños multilingües comunican información, ideas y conceptos para el aprendizaje y el desarrollo en el área de contenido de las matemáticas
- Estándar 4: El lenguaje de las ciencias
- Niños multilingües comunican información, ideas y conceptos para el aprendizaje y el desarrollo en el área de contenido de las ciencias
- Estándar 5: El lenguaje de los estudios sociales
- Niños multilingües comunican información, ideas y conceptos para el aprendizaje y el desarrollo en el área de contenido de los estudios sociales
- Estándar 6: El lenguaje del desarrollo físico
- Niños multilingües comunican información, ideas y conceptos para el aprendizaje y el desarrollo en el área de contenido del desarrollo físico
Language-Focused Approach
Taking a language-focused approach to instructional planning applies an equity and language lens to the design of engaging learning opportunities for young children. This approach not only promotes children’s overall early learning and development, it also promotes multilingual children’s home language and English language development.
- Concept Tool: A Language-Focused Approach to Planning Equitable Learning Opportunities
Teachers can use this concept tool to explore a language-focused approach to planning - Language-Focused Planning Tool: Annotated Guide
Teachers can use the guiding questions in this annotated guide to familiarize themselves with the Language-Focused Planning Tool - Language-Focused Planning Tool
Teachers can use this tool to get started with a language-focused approach to planning equitable learning opportunities for multilingual children - Snapshot: Planning for Languaging and Learning
This resource provides ideas for gathering information from families, community members, and classroom observations to use while planning instruction that promotes children’s languaging.
Are you an ECE professional in an Early Years member state and want to learn more about how to use these tools? If so, explore Section 2 of your state's Making Connections document.
Resources for Educators and Practitioners
Family Engagement
Flyers, short videos and other resources to help educators engage with families to support multilingual learner success.
Can Do Descriptors
Use the Descriptors to understand what multilingual learners can do at various stages of language development, and advocate for equitable access to developmentally appropriate content throughout this continuum.
Early Years Partnerships
WIDA Early Years partners with state education agencies to provide early care and education practitioners, coaches and program leaders access to high-quality tools and resources designed to support multilingual children, ages 2.5-5.5 years.