Child Development and Language:

Click on the topics below to navigate to these useful online resources.

  • BabySignLanguage.com: Searchable Dictionary of Baby Signs based on American Sign Language

  • HELLO Lab: The Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences at University of Connecticut provides an online video library on speech development in young children

  • Ages and Stages: from the American Academy of Pediatrics

  • Sesame Workshop: a plethora of resources for parents, including social-emotional learning activities, a printable Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) board, games and storyboards.

  • CT Birth to Three: the state agency that provides equitable access to support infants and toddlers with delays or disabilities to help them grow

  • US Education: Learn about Federal Student Aid and studying in the U.S. Find early intervention, special education, and Head Start programs. Get help with child care costs. Find a library.

Academic Support:

Find ready-to-use activities and printable worksheets by clicking on the links below. The East Lyme Public Library purchases subscriptions to these organization to offer free use by our patrons. Some sites will request your East Lyme Public Library card number for access.

Educate Station

Educate Station content is created by a team of experienced and passionate educators from across the United States. Our educators bring vast subject-matter expertise, teaching credentials, and many years of experience as classroom teachers and curriculum developers. Through the content we create, we aim to provide ready-to-use, hands-on activities for kids to do at home or at school. The Educate Station team is committed to inspiring joyful learning and supporting kids, teachers, and parents.

Miss Humblebees Academy

Designed for children ages 3 to 6, Miss Humblebee’s Academy is an easy-to-use, interactive online platform for kindergarten readiness. It includes hundreds of guided lessons with sound and visual cues across many disciplines including Art, Language & Literacy, Math, Music, and Science & Social Studies.

Visit our eBooks and Online Resources page to discover many more ways to learn global languages, use trustworthy research sites for homework help, create crafts with online video tutorials, and even take free practice tests for the SAT and ACT.

 

CT State Library Resources

The Connecticut State Library offers a wealth of free resources for the public. They offer reading challenges for all ages, Early Literacy monthly calendars packed with ideas on how caregivers can instill a love of reading in their young children, and other valuable resources. Click the image above to visit their site.

  • Early Literacy Calendar: These printable monthly calendars provide enjoyable and educational ideas of activities for caregivers to do with their young children to instill a love of reading and learning.

  • CT Summer Story Project: Six public libraries across the state of Connecticut, including the East Lyme Public Library, have written stories about libraries, local legends, and state landmarks in the summer of 2025. The stories contain nature, giants, wishes, and princes. From June 22- July 27, every Monday a new short story will be released with accompanying discussion questions and activities. Prepare yourself for fairy tales, adventure, mystery, and intrigue during the inaugural Connecticut Summer Story Project!

  • The Governor’s Summer Learning Challenge for 2026: Visit this site to view the reading list and summer reading challenge for the state of CT. This is a supplemental reading challenge to our own summer program at the East Lyme Public Library. The reading list provides great recommendations for year-long engagement!

  • All CT Reads: A program of the CT State Library, All CT Reads is a year-long initiative to promote lifelong reading, learning, and connection that uses a rotating community committee structure to select one main book title and three shortlist book titles, each calendar year for three age groups: kids (ages 10-12), teens (ages 13-18), and adults.

  • Under the Charter Oak Podcast: This is a monthly podcast highlighting CT history and library initiatives across the state.