Early Childhood

BEACON is a centralized resource for Illinois youth and families seeking services for behavioral health needs. It's common for young people to struggle with behavioral and/or mental health challenges. Please know you are not alone, and neither is your child. We are here to help. Visit the BEACON Portal at: https://beacon.illinois.gov/

The resources on this page are specific to the development of children ages 0-5.  The Parent/Guardian and Teacher pages have a multitude of other resources specific to various mental health topics.

Early Childhood (birth to 5 years) is a period of rapid brain development. Positive relationships, nurturing environments, and stable attachments with caregivers are essential for healthy emotional and social development.

General Resources

• Illinois School Board of Education Early Childhood Department
• Governor's Office of Early Childhood Education
• Illinois Early Learning Project
• Illinois Cares for Kids (find Childcare and Early Learning locations near you)
• Child Care Assistance Program
• Illinois Early Intervention Clearninghouse Resources for Families
• National Head Start Association
• Illinois Head Start Association
• US Office of Early Childhood Development "Watch Me Thrive" Resources Birth to age 5
• CDC: Development Tracker and Other Free Resources- Including Books
• Pathways.org: 0-5 Milestones

Articles

• NAEYC: Building Executive Function Skills through Play
• NIH: Childhood Mental Health- Is it Just a Phase?