Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP)

My role as a nursery teacher at Zeeba Daycare can have a very big impact on the development of children in my classroom. It is well known that children often observe what others do and many times will imitate actions they have observed, so it is very important that I set a good example and be a good role model as I could set a good foundation for the development of a child’s behaviour and morals. It is important to teach children that all people are important and valuable, no matter what their gender, race, ability or background is and that it is important to respect and support others that are different to us. Therefore I can affect their development in many good ways by

The program’s philosophy is based on the NAEYC’s guidelines on developmentally appropriate practices and Froebel, Piaget, and Gardner’s early learning theories. We believe that every child can learn and grow with the proper care and instruction. The NAEYC defines practices as developmentally appropriate when they consider age and stage related differences, individual differences in learning style and preferences, and social and cultural differences among children (Kostelnik, Soderman, & Whiren, 2011). For this reason we believe that the best way to ensure positive development is to adapt the materials, activities, and the mode of demonstrating learning to meet the varied needs of our students.

Today’s classrooms are becoming more and more diverse with students that have disabilities and those that come from different cultures. It is important for educators to ensure that their teaching strategies are appropriate for all of the children in their classroom. When it comes to the classroom there can be many cultural challenges that educators will have to address to ensure that all students are growing and developing appropriately. Educators need to make sure that they are capable of addressing each of their

Developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) involves educators making informed decisions grounded in research to challenge and motivate children to meet attainable goals (Copple & Bredekamp, 2009). In the video, Morning Circle at Preschool, children appear eager to participate in the morning routine. DAP was noted, as well as some actions that are in contrast to DAP.

■■ Learning and Development - recognises that children develop and learn in different ways and at different rates, and that all areas of learning and development are equally important and inter-connected.

. The blue classroom met DAP practices in that the furniture was sized appropriately to the ages of the children that were in that classroom (approx. 4-5yrs) and in the way classroom was arranged. The centers were easy to access and they were arranged so

1. A developmentally appropriate practice to help and 18 month old to understand be safe rule is presenting a puppet show. For example I would present 3 puppets, One teacher puppet and two toddler puppets. One of the toddler puppets would demonstrate running back and forth in the classroom. The teacher puppet would then explain to the two children the basic ground rules of being safe. Teacher puppet would also mention to the toddler puppets that running in the classroom can give us ouchies. And now the toddler puppets would have a better understanding of being safe.

To understand the whole child you have to understand the pieces which create a whole and balanced child. Development of social and emotional needs, physical needs, language learning needs, and cognitive development needs all come together cohesively to create a whole child. The best way to encourage and educate the whole child is through play because all needs for developing the whole child can be met during play. The keys to creating a whole child play environment is by incorporating age appropriate toys and materials into centers created by using development appropriate practices. The DAP’s (development appropriate practices) are created by investigating and identifying the child’s current stage of development. Once you identify where they the child is developmentally, you encourage and aide the child in learning and growing through play by using the DAP’s. Each part of the whole child’s needs must be investigated and identified before you can create a successful whole child environment. The child’s present cognitive abilities and struggles must be identified, you should know what physical abilities or struggles the child is facing, the child’s language needs must be identified, and last but definitely not least is the social and emotional needs. To

This next section I researched child development theory and principles that relate to best practices. Once again I found this study on the NAEYC site and it has twelve principles of child development and learning. They are as follows

DAP is “based on the accumulation of data and facts of what children are like” (Gestwicki, 2011). Addtionally, DAP is centered around tree basic factors:

Several issues are discussed in the NAEYC position statement about Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP). The section points out three main areas that policymakers have addressed because they realize how important these areas are to an early elementary child.

Hi-Shandi- as you mentioned the most important pieces of DAP direct environment is how to work and speak with children, as a teacher based on what children need developmentally, by age and stage, individually and culturally to make the most of their educational experiences, and it is important skill for students at every age. Teaching children to do it on their own is the most effective method, because they experience it again and again, then they become to the solution, practice is the best way of learning. Observing and attending around the learning environment helps to assess how children involve to the activity and motivate them to do the activity eagerly when the teacher attend them.

1. Developmentally appropriate practice as defined by NAEYC is a “framework of principles and guidelines for best practice in the care and education of young children, birth through age 8. Children cannot perform tasks that they are not yet developmentally capable of doing and teachers have to be aware of this. One would not expect a one year old child to be able to write their name, not only because they are not cognitively able to understand this task, but also because their fine motor skills have not developed enough to hold a writing instrument. Therefore, most adults would realize this task is not developmentally appropriate. A kindergarten teacher, for example, can able to expect his or her students to know why it is necessary as

It is important to important and appropriate to start implement large group activities during centers and rotation. Encouraging the children to sing a certain song is planning and letting them know the next activity or standard. You can plan a day ahead or a week ahead, as long as it’s planning the right standard. Implementing developmentally appropriate practices into classroom literacy instruction means meeting the students at the developmental stage they are currently and making them to reach goals that are set for them. DAP reduces learning gaps or problems, increases achievement for all children, and allows students to share and interact in the learning process while they solve their own problems as they learn new methods and things.

There are three cornerstones of DAP: the first is having the research knowledge of what is considered developmentally-appropriate for