Gesell Institute of Child Development

06/01/2026

Need an assessment tool for next school year? Try the Gesell Early Screener. The GES provides a quick, concise snapshot of a child’s development. No training is required, but the GES workshop webinar is available to provide support. https://secure.touchnet.net/C20510_ustores/web/store_cat.jsp?STOREID=93&CATID=311&SINGLESTORE=true

05/29/2026

Child Care Aware® of America just released its 2025 Child Care in America: Price and Supply Report. Here is what it found:

1. The national average annual price of child care is $13,184.
2. For a single parent, that is 33% of their median income.
3. In all states with data, the price of care for two children in a center exceeds median rent, and in most states, exceeds mortgage payments.
4. Across all four regions of the country, child care for a two children in a center is more expensive than in-state public college tuition, transportation, food, and health care.
5. At best, the current supply of licensed child care centers is stagnant from prior years, maintaining the barriers families face to find care.

A new report from CCAoA, Child Care in America: 2025 Price & Supply, found a small decrease in the number of child care centers from 2024 to 2025

05/27/2026

Host a GDO-R Workshop with the Gesell! Perfect for schools, districts, and early childhood centers ready to dive deeper into developmentally informed teaching.

Host a PRIVATE HYBRID or PRIVATE ONLINE GDO-R Workshop: Often schools and early childhood centers prefer to hold a private group workshop for their staff only. This could be as a team building PD experience, because it is more cost efficient than to pay for travel for multiple people, or because our...

05/27/2026

We believe that curiosity should be fostered at all ages! Join us for a FREE Q&A on May 27th at 6:30 EST! We’ll discuss the GES and GDO-R, updates in the latest manual editions, training opportunities for 2026, and how to become a National Lecture Staff trainer, and more.

05/25/2026

Join us for a casual Q&A this Wednesday, May 27th at 6:30 ET! Whether you’re new to Gesell or have been with us for years, we’ll discuss the differences between GES and GDO-R, updates in the latest manual editions, exciting new training opportunities for 2026, and how to become a National Lecture Staff trainer, along with more helpful insights. Register today! https://www.gesell-yale.org/pages/events

05/22/2026

Gesell's Executive Director, Dr. Peg Oliveira, was featured in the play-based learning documentary Based in Play made possible by the Seedlings Foundation. Watch the piece and learn more at the link below!

Watch Based in Play, a documentary showing how real classrooms use play-based learning to boost engagement, meet standards, and build lifelong skills.

05/20/2026

At Gesell, we understand that play is one of the clearest ways development becomes visible. How is the right to play protected by the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)? Check out our new blog post to learn more!

A Child’s Right to Play: Understanding Article 31 of the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child

05/19/2026

Destination Conference!

Join Gesell's Director, Dr. Peg Oliveira, for Leadership Day at the annual CTAEYC Conference. Stick around for the rest of the conference and all the fun in Mystic, CT!

We are thrilled to officially introduce our Leadership Day Keynote Speaker for the 2026 CTAEYC Annual Conference, Dr. Peg Oliveira!

Dr. Peg Oliveira is the Director of the Gesell Program in Early Childhood at the Yale Child Study Center and an Associate Research Scientist at Yale University. A developmental psychologist and advocate, her work focuses on child-centered approaches to teaching and parenting, with a strong emphasis on developmentally appropriate practice and play-based learning.

Throughout her career, Peg has worked closely with schools, districts, educators, families, and policymakers to support young children and the adults who care for them. Many in Connecticut’s early childhood community may also recognize her contributions to the development of Connecticut’s original Core Knowledge and Competencies for early childhood educators.

In addition to presenting our Leadership Day keynote on Thursday, September 24, Peg will also lead TWO workshops during the conference.

This is a day you will not want to miss!

Join us at the Mystic Marriott Hotel & Spa for Leadership Day this September!

05/18/2026

GDO-R trainings prepare early childhood professionals to understand and better meet the unique needs and abilities of young children. Join us for our July GDO-R 2.5-6-Year-Old virtual workshop! Registration closes 06/24. Visit our events page to register and learn more!

Upcoming Events WORKSHOP - GDO-R 2.5 - 6 - Deerfield, MA WORKSHOP - GDO-R 2.5 - 6 - High Point, NC WORKSHOP - GDO-R 2.5-6 - Phoenix, AZ WEBINAR - GDO-R 6-9 Cer

05/15/2026

Let's talk... with children! “The oral language piece, I think, is given too short a shrift in the U.S. [school system],” said Sonia Cabell, the Sigmon endowed professor in reading education and core faculty at the Florida Center for Reading Research. Check it out below! https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/kindergartners-arent-talking-enough-in-class-why-that-matters/2026/04?utm_source=fb&utm_medium=soc&utm_campaign=edit&fbclid=IwY2xjawRVy_VleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE3YXhDTmhzcHFzSEltUzZLc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHtfM1dL8HQVU6g_1J3nOWk2tFtXGsZtcEWMOY4ezg1nf8IRGAYlPNUL1FGmt_aem_QwSY0ugiwKS97nC5vAihMg

In the quest to develop young readers, oral language takes a back seat to the written word, say experts.