Developmentally Appropriate Practice

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Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) is the method teachers use to provide the best education to each child. This is done by meeting children where they are developmentally, culturally, and individually.

DAP was created by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). It guides teachers and schools to provide the best early childhood education possible.

The NAEYC says that Developmentally Appropriate Practice must be:

Age appropriate. School activities must be appropriate for each age and developmental stage.
Culturally aware. Teachers must make an effort to get to know students, their families, and their cultural backgrounds.
Focused on the individual. Activities must take into account the child’s interests, abilities, and developmental progress.

Developmentally Appropriate Practice is guided by the following 12 principles:

All areas of development and learning are important.
Learning and development follow sequences.
Development and learning occur at varying rates.
A child’s maturity and experience affects their development.
Early experiences have profound effects on development and learning.
Development becomes more complex over time. Development involves self-regulation and symbolic or representational capabilities.
Children develop best when they have secure relationships.
Development and learning occur in, and are influenced by, various social and cultural contexts.
Children learn in a variety of ways.
Play is an important vehicle for developing self-regulation. Play is also important in promoting language, cognition, and social competence.
Development and learning advance when children are challenged.
Children’s experiences shape their motivation and approaches to learning.