Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/another-training-tip-developmentally-appropriate-practice-thinking-about-how-children-learn/5008319/
The terms "Developmentally Appropriate Practice" or "DAP" are now widely used in child care and early childhood education programs. This represents decades of hard work on the part of professionals dedicated to teaching and increasing the body of knowledge on how children learn. Equally important has been the determination of advocates to preserve the spirit of childhood and have that guide us in our planning for group care and education.Yet, for every professional practicing and advocating for DAP, there are scores of others uninformed or misguided, pressing for a more rigorous academic program at a younger and younger age. This, combined with the high staff turnover in child care programs, compels us to make staff training on child development and appropriate curriculum practices a continuously high priority.
Previously (Exchange, June 1989) I have written about efforts to interest staff in important resources such as Sue Bredekamp's Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs Serving Children From Birth Through Age 8, published by NAEYC. Asking staff to consult books doesn't usually lead to the teaching behaviors we desire. Most teachers don't have the resources, inclination, or even access to child development classes. And directors themselves have limited ...