Developmentally Appropriate

According to the Southern Regional Education Board (1994), a developmentally appropriate program or practice is "based on knowledge of the stages of child development, and an understanding that each child is unique and that each child's experiences should match his or her development abilities." In particular, a developmentally appropriate early childhood program emphasizes:

• Active exploration of the environment.
• Self-directed, hands-on learning activities.
• Balance between individual and group activities.
• Regular and supportive interaction with teachers and peers.
• Balance between active movement and quiet activities.

For further information, refer to the following sources:

• Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs Serving Children from Birth Through Age 8 (National Association for the Education for Young Children, 1996)

• Curriculum and Assessment from Getting Schools Ready for Children: The Other Side of the Readiness Goal (Southern Regional Education Board, 1994)

• Developmentally Appropriate Programs (Kostelnik, 1993)

References