Never Too Early: Infant and Toddler Social-Emotional Development Through Children’s Literature Hailey Paschold February 20, 2026

This online course supports infant-toddler teachers in nurturing children’s social and emotional growth through meaningful, developmentally appropriate use of children’s literature. Participants will explore social-emotional development from birth to age three, grounded in the Vermont Early Learning Standards, with attention to key milestones such as attachment, self-regulation, well-being, communication, and emerging empathy. Participants will consider how everyday interactions can nurture the development of these essentials.

A central focus of the class is using high-quality picture books that reflect a wide range of feelings and everyday experiences. Educators will learn how stories can help young children recognize emotions, build emotional vocabulary, and feel understood, while also strengthening relationships through responsive, interactive reading.

Through discussion in a Google Classroom, and curated book examples, participants will gain tools they can immediately apply in classrooms and home-care settings. The course emphasizes creating emotionally supportive environments where literature becomes a natural, powerful part of daily routines and caregiving—reinforcing that social-emotional learning truly begins from the very start.