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Head Start ELOF Preschool Printables

Preschool printables aligned to the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework (ELOF), organized by domain.

How to put ELOF to work

Turn any domain into hands-on learning, in three steps.

1

Pick a focus

Choose the domain your child or class is working on: curiosity, feelings, language, early math, or motor skills.

2

Open it up

Tap that domain to see its goals and the printables that match.

3

Let them lead

Keep it playful and child-led. At this age, play is the learning.

Explore the ELOF domains

Approaches to Learning

13 standards
P-ATL 1Manages EmotionsChild manages emotions with increasing independence.See printables →P-ATL 2Follows Rules & RoutinesChild follows classroom rules and routines with increasing independence.See printables →P-ATL 3Cares for MaterialsChild appropriately handles and takes care of classroom materials.See printables →P-ATL 4Manages Actions & BehaviorChild manages actions, words, and behavior with increasing independence.See printables →P-ATL 5Controls ImpulsesChild demonstrates an increasing ability to control impulses.See printables →P-ATL 6Maintains Focus & AttentionChild maintains focus and sustains attention with minimal adult support.See printables →P-ATL 7Persists in TasksChild persists in tasks.See printables →P-ATL 8Holds & Uses InformationChild holds information in mind and manipulates it to perform tasks.See printables →P-ATL 9Flexible ThinkingChild demonstrates flexibility in thinking and behavior.See printables →P-ATL 10Curiosity & MotivationChild shows curiosity and motivation to learn.See printables →P-ATL 11Imagination & InventivenessChild shows flexibility, imagination, and inventiveness in approaching tasks and activities.See printables →P-ATL 12Develops Complex PlayChild develops increasingly complex play.See printables →P-ATL 13Plans & Acts PurposefullyChild plans and acts purposefully.See printables →

Social & Emotional Development

10 standards
P-SE 1Relationships With AdultsChild engages in and maintains positive relationships and interactions with adults.See printables →P-SE 2Cooperative With AdultsChild engages in prosocial and cooperative behavior with adults.See printables →P-SE 3Relationships With ChildrenChild engages in and maintains positive interactions and relationships with other children.See printables →P-SE 4Cooperative PlayChild engages in cooperative play with other children.See printables →P-SE 5Resolves ConflictsChild uses basic problem-solving skills to resolve conflicts with other children.See printables →P-SE 6Expresses EmotionsChild expresses a broad range of emotions and recognizes these emotions in self and others.See printables →P-SE 7Interprets Others’ EmotionsChild recognizes and interprets emotions of others with the support of adults.See printables →P-SE 8Care & Concern for OthersChild expresses care and concern toward others.See printables →P-SE 9Self as an IndividualChild recognizes self as a unique individual having own abilities, characteristics, emotions, and interests.See printables →P-SE 10Confidence in SelfChild expresses confidence in own skills and positive feelings about self.See printables →

Language & Communication

8 standards
P-LC 1Attends to CommunicationChild attends to communication and language from others.See printables →P-LC 2Understands Complex LanguageChild understands and responds to increasingly complex communication and language from others.See printables →P-LC 3Communicates Needs & WantsChild communicates needs and wants non-verbally and by using language.See printables →P-LC 4Expresses Ideas & FeelingsChild uses language to express, refine, and clarify ideas, thoughts, and feelings.See printables →P-LC 5Uses Language for PurposesChild uses language for a variety of purposes.See printables →P-LC 6Conversational RulesChild understands, follows, and uses appropriate social and conversational rules.See printables →P-LC 7Wide Variety of WordsChild understands and uses a wide variety of words for a variety of purposes.See printables →P-LC 8Word Categories & RelationshipsChild shows understanding of word categories and relationships among words.See printables →

Literacy

6 standards
P-LIT 1Phonological AwarenessChild demonstrates awareness that spoken language is composed of smaller segments of sound.See printables →P-LIT 2Print ConceptsChild demonstrates an understanding of how print is used (functions of print) and the rules that govern how print works.See printables →P-LIT 3Alphabet KnowledgeChild identifies letters of the alphabet and produces correct sounds associated with letters.See printables →P-LIT 4Narrative & Text StructureChild demonstrates an understanding of narrative structure through storytelling and re-telling.See printables →P-LIT 5Asks & Answers About BooksChild asks and answers questions about a book that was read aloud.See printables →P-LIT 6Writing SkillsChild demonstrates writing skills.See printables →

Mathematics Development

10 standards
P-MATH 1Number Names & Count SequenceChild knows number names and the count sequence.See printables →P-MATH 2Recognizes Quantity in a Small SetChild recognizes the number of objects in a small set.See printables →P-MATH 3Numbers & QuantitiesChild understands the relationship between numbers and quantities.See printables →P-MATH 4Compares NumbersChild compares numbers.See printables →P-MATH 5Written Numerals & Begins to WriteChild associates a quantity with written numerals up to 5 and begins to write numbers.See printables →P-MATH 6Addition & SubtractionChild understands addition as adding to and understands subtraction as taking away from.See printables →P-MATH 7Simple PatternsChild understands simple patterns.See printables →P-MATH 8MeasurementChild measures objects by their various attributes using standard and non-standard measurement, and uses differences to make comparisons.See printables →P-MATH 9ShapesChild identifies, describes, compares, and composes shapes.See printables →P-MATH 10Spatial RelationshipsChild explores the positions of objects in space.See printables →

Scientific Reasoning

6 standards
P-SCI 1Observes & DescribesChild observes and describes observable phenomena (objects, materials, organisms, and events).See printables →P-SCI 2Scientific TalkChild engages in scientific talk.See printables →P-SCI 3Compares & CategorizesChild compares and categorizes observable phenomena.See printables →P-SCI 4Questions & PredictionsChild asks questions, gathers information, and makes predictions.See printables →P-SCI 5Investigations & ExperimentsChild plans and conducts investigations and experiments.See printables →P-SCI 6Draws ConclusionsChild analyzes results, draws conclusions, and communicates results.See printables →

Perceptual, Motor & Physical Development

7 standards
P-PMP 1Gross Motor ControlChild demonstrates control, strength, and coordination of large muscles.See printables →P-PMP 2Perceptual MovementChild uses perceptual information to guide motions and interactions with objects and other people.See printables →P-PMP 3Fine Motor ControlChild demonstrates increasing control, strength, and coordination of small muscles.See printables →P-PMP 4Sensory InformationChild uses understanding of sensory information to guide motions and interactions.See printables →P-PMP 5Self-Care & HygieneChild demonstrates personal hygiene and self-care skills.See printables →P-PMP 6Healthy EatingChild develops knowledge and skills that help promote nutritious food choices and eating habits.See printables →P-PMP 7Personal SafetyChild demonstrates knowledge of personal safety practices and routines.See printables →

What is the Head Start ELOF?

ELOF — the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework — maps what children from birth to age five are learning, and it covers far more than letters and numbers: how kids learn (curiosity, focus, persistence), how they get along and handle feelings, language, early thinking, and how they move and use their hands. Not every program calls it ELOF — many states have their own early learning standards — but they cover the same whole-child ground.

ELOF and preschool questions, answered

What are the five ELOF domains?

Approaches to Learning (curiosity, focus, persistence), Social and Emotional Development (relationships and feelings), Language and Literacy, Cognition (early math and thinking), and Perceptual, Motor, and Physical Development. Together they cover the whole child — not just academics, but how kids learn, relate, move, and feel.

How is ELOF different from Common Core and state standards?

ELOF is broader and earlier. Common Core and state K–3 standards focus on academic skills by grade; ELOF covers birth to five and includes the developmental foundations underneath — social skills, self-regulation, motor skills, curiosity — that academics are built on. Many states’ early learning standards line up closely with ELOF, so the skills overlap even when the labels differ.

What should my preschooler be working on at this age?

At three to five, the “work” is mostly play: building language by talking and being read to, learning to take turns and manage feelings, strengthening little hands with cutting and play dough, counting and sorting real objects, and following their curiosity. Letters and numbers matter, but so do focus, persistence, and getting along — and there’s no single timeline every child must hit.

How do I use ELOF to plan preschool activities?

Start with where your kids are and what you’re seeing, then pick a domain and goal to focus on — say, fine motor or early counting — and choose hands-on activities that build it. The domains above are organized exactly that way, so you can drill into a goal and find what fits. ELOF is meant to guide planning, not box it in, so it pairs naturally with play-based, child-led learning.