ESDM Online
Welcome to ESDM Online, a resource for parents and providers eager to discover ways to help children connect, communicate, and learn. Here, you will find examples, tips, activities, the latest research findings, videos, and much more to support your goals as a parent or provider. Join the community and become part of this mission to create positive learning experiences for children.
- Giving children opportunities to practice their skills through play and everyday activities.
- Creating a welcoming, accessible and nonjudgemental space to hear about and share ideas.
- Helping children feel calm, safe and supported.
Connect, Communicate, and Learn
Find out how to use tips from the ESDM for early social-communication skills important to life-long learning, behavior, and health with your child or with families whom you support in an early childhood learning environment.
Helping young minds grow starts with executive function—the set of cognitive skills that regulate thoughts, emotions, and attention. This Quick Tip explores practical strategies, including structured activities, routines, and games, to support these skills in children’s early years and an example of a scavenger hunt to illustrate how play can enhance cognitive and social development. Happy playing and learning!
The research article mentioned can be found here: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/389906736
Read monthly research about intervention outcomes for children with or at risk of autism; coaching supports for their families; and/or family-centered, culturally inclusive coaching tools to help early childhood professionals support families. Each monthly article is publicly available for free access.
Behavioral therapies are essential for helping children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but not every child responds to them in the same way. This month's Latest News shares results from many previous research papers (called a meta-analysis) at what factors might explain these differences (see the table below). By understanding these predictors, clinicians and caregivers can better tailor interventions to meet each child's unique needs, ultimately improving effectiveness and long-term success.
Click the article (to the right) to read more on the importance of personalized approaches in autism treatment, reinforcing the need for ongoing research to refine intervention strategies.
This table highlights key factors that can influence how children with autism respond to behavioral interventions. This breakdown helps families and professionals better understand how personal and contextual elements shape therapy success, and supports more tailored, responsive treatment planning.
Have you heard of pudding painting? I hadn’t—but it did not disappoint… Watch out, Martha Stewart! All you need is pudding, a shower curtain (or another surface to paint on), and optional everyday tools if you want to get fancy with this Play of the Month activity. It’s an ultra-fun experience that might even turn edible if children can’t help themselves! From simple, curiosity-sparking activities to multi-step creative play that builds new skills, these ideas invite children to explore, create, and grow.
From single-step activities that spark curiosity to multi-step combination play that builds new skills and pretend play adventures that fuel creativity, these ideas encourage children to explore, create, and grow. See below for activity ideas and learning goals linked to the ESDM Curriculum Checklist items to help you discover the play level that best suits your child or the children and families you support in early learning environments.
Pay attention to what children like (or seem curious about) and follow their lead as long as you are a part of the action, too. Remember, the most important thing is for children to have fun doing this with you! Fun means engagement and that excites children's brains and bodies for meaningful learning to happen.
Simple play actions that encourage children to explore, use their senses, and move their bodies:
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Finger Painting Fun – Let kids explore textures by using their hands to spread and swirl pudding on the surface.
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Color Mixing – Add drops of food coloring and watch as colors blend into fascinating patterns.
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Sensory Bag Exploration – Fill a ziplock bag with pudding and let kids squish and manipulate it without the mess.
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Freeze & Paint – Freeze small blobs of pudding and let kids use them as "paint cubes" for a chilly sensory twist.
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Pudding Brush Art – Use paintbrushes to create designs with different strokes and techniques.
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Texture Experiment – Introduce different tools like sponges, forks, or combs to explore patterns.
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Stamp & Print – Dip toy animals, cars, or small objects into pudding to make fun imprints on paper.
Imaginary play that encourages children to make-believe and role-play:
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Cooking Pretend Play – Children can "bake" pretend cakes, cookies, or cupcakes using pudding as frosting or batter to decorate their pretend cakes or cookies.
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Mud & Construction Play – Pretend the pudding is mud for toy construction vehicles or animals exploring a wild habitat.
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Edible Storytelling – Create scenes using toy animals and objects—kids can narrate their stories while painting!
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Face Painting & Makeup Play – Use pudding as pretend face paint or makeup for dolls, stuffed animals, or even themselves (safe and edible!).
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Treasure Hunt Maps – Paint a treasure map with pudding and let kids go on an adventure to find hidden treasures.
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Superhero Power Boost – Kids can pretend pudding is a special energy source that gives their superhero characters extra strength.
