DAP: Defining Developmentally Appropriate Practice

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51勛圖厙 defines developmentally appropriate practice as methods that promote each childs optimal development and learning through a strengths-based, play-based approach to joyful, engaged learning. Educators implement developmentally appropriate practice by recognizing the multiple assets all young children bring to the early learning program as unique individuals and as members of families and communities. Building on each childs strengthsand taking care to not harm any aspect of each childs physical, cognitive, social, or emotional well-beingeducators design and implement learning environments to help all children achieve their full potential across all domains of development and across all content areas. Developmentally appropriate practice recognizes and supports each individual as a valued member of the learning community. As a result, to be developmentally appropriate, practices must also be culturally, linguistically, and ability appropriate for each child.
The泭Developmentally Appropriate Practice泭Position Statement is a framework of principles and guidelines to support a teachers intentional decision making for practice. The principles serve as the evidence base for the guidelines for practice, and both are situated within three core considerationscommonality, individuality, and context.