Running head: NAEYC AND DAP 1

NAEYC and DAP

Julie Estep

Fresno Pacific University

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NAEYC and DAP

In the article, Developmentally appropriate practices in early childhood programs

serving children from birth through age 8, there are five developmentally appropriate

practices inspired guidelines listed for teachers and caregivers to follow. These are

guidelines for effective teaching. These guidelines are: creating a caring community of

learners, teaching to enhance development of learning, constructing appropriate

curriculum, assessing childrens learning and development, and establishing reciprocal

relationships with families.

These practices were created as a quick guide for teachers to implement the

developmentally appropriate practices (DAP) into their teaching. There are 12

developmentally appropriate practices. The 12 DAP are listed as follows, All areas of

development and learning are important. Learning and development follow sequences.

Development and learning proceed at varying rates. Development and learning result

from an interaction of maturation and experience. Early experiences have profound

effects on development and learning. Development proceeds toward greater complexity,

self-regulation, and symbolic or representational capacities. Children develop best when

they have secure relationships. Development and learning occur in and are influenced by

multiple social and cultural contexts. Children learn in a variety of ways. Play is an

important vehicle for developing self-regulation and promoting language, cognition, and

social competence. Development and learning advance when children are challenged.

Childrens experiences shape their motivation and approaches to learning (12 Principles

of Child Development and Learning that Inform Practice, para 1). These practices are a
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long list for teachers to follow; this is where the five guidelines for effective teaching

come into play.

I feel that when it comes to these practices I am strongest in creating a caring

community of learners, teaching to enhance development and learning, and establishing

reciprocal relationships with families. I feel that I am strong in creating a caring

community of learners because I support social interaction and realize its important role

in development. I believe I am practice teaching to enhance development and learning. I

treat each child with respect and dignity because every human being is entitled to that. As

a future special educator and a current instructional aide for special needs students I know

the importance of knowing your students well, it is crucial to their development that I

understand them. Lastly I feel confident that I am good at establishing a reciprocal

relationship with my students family. I know how important it is to create positive

relationships with the students and their families.

I feel that my weakest two areas of the guidelines for effective teaching are

constructing appropriate curriculum and assessing childrens learning and development.

One reason I feel one of my weakest areas are constructing an appropriate curriculum is

because I have not had to build a curriculum before. I am still learning what all goes into

a well-balanced curriculum through school. I work in a classroom now, but our

curriculum is adult based. For me it is hard to know what skills to work on for what

period of time. I feel that I need to improve my skills for this area. I also feel one of my

lowest points is assessing childrens learning and development. Although sometimes I

feel confident in this area with my own adult students, sometimes I get things wrong. I
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hope to learn more about assessing children in the coming months before graduation and

in my credentialing program.

These DAP principles and guidelines can all be applied to all subjects taught in

school, especially physical education. For example it is important to build a positive

relationship with your students so that they will be excited to try new activities you may

have for them when it comes to physical education. Children need to be able to trust their

teachers and in turn they will open up and try new things. Also it is important in physical

education to assess students and their progress in skills taught. It is important that

teachers build on these principles since they are relevant and useful to a childs

development.
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References

Developmentally appropriate practices in early childhood programs serving children from

birth through age 8. (1996). National Association for the Education of Young

Children, 1-22.

12 Principles of Child Development and Learning that Inform Practice. (n.d.). Retrieved

May 01, 2017, from http://www.naeyc.org/dap/12-principles-of-child-

development