ELOF@HOME vs ThinkPlayful

The ELOF@Home is a mobile solution for home visitors who want to access, and learn more about, the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework (HS ELOF). The app provides on-the-go access to the ELOF goals for children and effective practices for home visitors in support of those goals. The ELOF@HOME is designed to be used by home visitors to learn more about which home visiting practices are effective at supporting parents in their children’s growth and development within the ELOF domains. It includes imagery, text, and stories that represent the diversity found in Head Start and Early Head Start programs across the country, including children who are Dual Language Learners (DLLs) and a focus on “individualizing” for children with unique needs and abilities. Who is the ELOF@HOME app for? The ELOF@HOME app should be used by directors, managers, and home visitors, working in home-based programs as their mobile ELOF. The ELOF@HOME app incorporates practices that are effective at promoting strong parent-child relationships, positive parenting, and children’s growth and development within the ELOF domains. As directors and managers explore the app, they should use it to: • Guide everyday practice in selecting and using curriculum along with home visiting and assessment practices that promote the goals for secure parent- child relationships and children’s development and learning • Identify staff training needs and plan for staff training and development • Identify program priorities and focus attention and resources on meeting the goals for children’s development and learning • Communicate about program planning, implementation, and impact with staff, families, advisory board, and the community As home visitors explore the app, they should use it to: • Support the development of strong parent- child relationships and positive parenting • Plan learning experiences with parents and their children to promote secure parent-child interactions and school readiness • Engage consistently in meaningful, culturally sensitive interactions and conversations with parents and their children to support their learning in all the domains • Inform effective, intentional, and responsive home visiting practices to help parents and their children make progress toward their goals • Engage parents and family members in understanding and supporting their child’s learning in the home environment • Complement information gathered from ongoing assessments

ThinkPlayful is an intelligent learning app that engages, encourages, and empowers families as they help their young children gain essential early learning skills. Its innovative guided play approach offers activities that the adult and child do together both on- and off-screen. An early math and STEM foundations solution for parents and other caregivers, ThinkPlayful develops critical thinking and problem-solving skills right from the start! Fun math and science early learning activities support family engagement and kindergarten readiness.