Developmentally Appropriate Practice

Creating enriching educational environments in a family child care setting involves understanding developmentally appropriate practice and implementing developmentally appropriate curriculum. Developmentally appropriate practice focuses on tailoring the curriculum and interactions to match children’s developmental stages and creating a nurturing and engaging environment that supports all areas of a child’s development. This approach ensures that learning experiences are not only suitable for the children’s chronological ages but also align with their individual differences and characteristics.

Developmentally Appropriate Practice NAEYC defines developmentally appropriate practice as “methods that promote each child’s optimal development and learning through a strengths-based, play-based approach to joyful, engaged learning.” It is individualized, responsive care that is just right for the child’s developmental age, cultural context, abilities, and personality. 

Developmentally Appropriate Curriculum Implement research-based curriculum and teaching practices that consider the unique developmental stage of each child. A developmentally appropriate curriculum provides effective and engaging interactions and environments. It acknowledges that children develop at different rates and tailors learning experiences to individual needs, interests, and abilities. It includes age and developmentally appropriate, child-focused learning experiences.

Following Children’s Lead Developmentally appropriate practice values highly individualized teaching and learning. Watch the video to learn how to build on children’s interests, offer choices, and encourage children’s ideas. These developmentally appropriate practices increase children’s motivation, participation, and learning.