Can parents use the Illinois Early Learning Standards and Benchmarks?
As a parent, you might use the Standards and Benchmarks in several ways. For example, reading the Benchmarks can give you an idea of the kinds of skills and experiences that kindergarten teachers would like every child, including yours, to have before entering kindergarten. You can also find out whether your child’s program uses the Standards and Benchmarks. If it does, you might ask the teacher which Benchmarks your child’s class is working on. The teacher will be able to tell you how the classroom activities help the children meet Benchmarks. Families can also work together with early childhood programs to provide learning experiences for their children. So, you might use the Standards and Benchmarks to help you think of things to do at home that might give your child the skills and knowledge he or she will need for kindergarten. The Illinois Early Learning Benchmark Project can connect you to Internet resources with fun, educational activities you can do at home with your child (htt
