arly Childhood education sets the stage for a child's academic career. The goal is to get little kids ready for school age programs. I believe the most effective early childhood programs are center based. The best centers have social, language and preacademic objectives layered together. The kids always have fun. The best teachers make it look like they just came to play and have fun. Their colleagues recognize their planning, skill and just plain love for kids. On my most challenging days, I try to take the time to visit an early childhood special education classroom. It helps me remember our strengths, our victories in kids' lives and our future as educators and good citizens.

The LiteracyCenter.Net serves more than a million free literacy lessons a month to children in 141 countries. It provides safe learning activities for parents and teachers to share with young children. All online lessons are free of advertising and free of charge. The site has curriculum in English and Spanish.

Funschool is a vibrant online destination that attracts kids from preschool to grade six, as well as parents, caregivers and educators. They are encouraged to explore and enjoy the Internet in a safe, robust environment offering hundreds of games and activities, as well as puzzles and printables ranging from matching numbers and shapes for pre-schoolers, to geography, math and history for third through sixth graders. Segmented by grade level for easy-to-use navigation by young users, Funschool allows parents with young kids to enjoy a family Internet experience together.

Early Childhood Australia is a leading publisher of quality assured early childhood resources. Their publications provide information about current early childhood research and good practice.

The National Association for the Education of Young Children is dedicated to improving the well-being of all young children, with particular focus on the quality of educational and developmental services for all children from birth through age 8. NAEYC is committed to becoming an increasingly high performing and inclusive organization.

Whether you're looking for classroom management strategies, parent guides, holiday activities, or just neat sites for students to learn while having fun, there's no better place to start than EduPuppy.

The Early Childhood Institute sponsors comprehensive and challenging research in order to help ensure that America's young children are successful in school and beyond -- and to enhance their quality of life and that of their families.

Use the Classroom Architect to design a floor plan for your classroom.

The Idea Box has activities to use with early childhood students, a newsletter, seasonal activities, recipies and crafts. Great site.

Earlychildhood.com has a craft of the month, children's book literacy, alternatives to time out and a section to share your ideas.

Pratt's Early Childhood Education themes, songs, arts & crafts, literature, online activities, and more.

Kinderart is ... art education for kids of all ages ... and so much more.

Teaching Ideas for Early Childhood Special Educators has tons of thematic ideas and links!

ABC Order is a free online game for kids learning abc order to play online.

Dragon Tales inspires children to spread their wings and soar. Home to dragons, doodle fairies, and ordinary kids like Max and Emmy, the series which was developed with funding from the US Department of Education, addresses the challenges preschoolers face every day.

The National Institute on Early Childhood Development and Education sponsors comprehensive and challenging research in order to help ensure that America's young children are successful in school and beyond -- and to enhance their quality of life and that of their families.

At home and at school MegaSkills is the best gift we can give our children.

KidsCom is an educational and entertaining playground for kids 4 to 12. Chat, play games and find a Key Pal. Share your opinions, stories and video game tips and tricks.

California Dreaming Kids is a great children's site offering a wide range of educational and creative activities for children. Free graphics, clip art, animations, software, poetry and more. Includes reviews of other exceptional sites. Kids love this.