Never Too Early: Infant and Toddler Learning Through Children’s Literature Hailey Paschold February 2, 2026

This online course invites infant-toddler teachers to explore how meaningful literacy experiences begin from birth—and how thoughtfully chosen picture books can shape curriculum for infants and toddlers in powerful ways. Participants will deepen their understanding of what early literacy truly looks like for very young children, moving beyond letters and words to focus on language development, connection, play, and communication.

The course centers on using high-quality picture books and board books as the foundation for daily learning experiences. Educators will learn how stories can guide routines, spark curiosity, support social-emotional growth, and inspire age-appropriate activities for even the youngest learners.

Topics include what literacy means in the infant and toddler years, why early reading matters for brain development and long-term learning, and how storytelling builds vocabulary, attention, and imagination. Participants will also explore the essential role of rhythm, songs, and rhymes in strengthening language patterns, memory, and joyful engagement.

Through discussion and book-based curriculum ideas shared through a Google Classroom in between the two online sessions, educators will leave with concrete strategies they can use immediately in their classrooms or home-care settings. This course emphasizes responsive, relationship-based learning that honors children’s developmental stages while creating rich, nurturing literacy environments from the very beginning.

Perfect for infant-toddler teachers and home-care providers, this class reinforces a simple but powerful truth: it is never too early to begin building a lifelong love of language and learning.