DAP

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DAP

• Developmentally Appropriate Practices
• in
• Early Childhood Education

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Family Resiliency Impact Team

• Meeting April 10, 2002
• Guthrie, Oklahoma
• Elaine Wilson, Parenting Specialist

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Best Practices

• DAP
• DIP

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Developmental

• Age
• Ability
• Interests
• Family

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Play

• Autonomous
• Self Initiated or Self Selected
• Individually Paced
• Independent Learning

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Principles of Development

• 1. Domains of development are closely related.

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No Recess

• Physical
• Social
• Emotional
• Cognitive

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Principles of Development

• 2. Development builds in sequence.

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Speed Slows

• Better late than early
• Fully developed before moving on
• Complete not fast

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Natural Unfolding

• Remember the Butterfly
• Patience please, children are developing

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Developmental Principles

• 3. Developmental rates vary among children and
  areas of development.

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Slow can be better

• Language
• Social interaction
• Mathematics

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Developmental Principles

• 4. Early experiences during optimal periods have
  cumulative and delayed effects.

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W.A.R.M.

• Character Role Models
• Home
• - School
• Church
• Community
• Media

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Developmental Principles

• 5. Development has direction
• Complexity
• Organization
• Internalization
• Cephalically and Proximal Distal

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Classroom Design

• Interest Centers
• Choices
• Flexible levels

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Developmental Principles

• 6. Children are active learners
• Physical and social experience
• Culture
• Construct own understanding

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Experience

• Invented spelling
• Perception
• Centering

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Developmental Principles

• 7. Biological maturation interacts with physical
  and social environment.

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Developmental Principles

• 8. Play is the vehicle for development, mastery,
  and reflection

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Developmental Principles

• 9. Development advances with practice and
  challenge just beyond the current level of
  mastery.

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The problem of the match

• Too difficult is frustrating
• Too easy is boring
• Practice advances
• Drill stresses

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Developmental Principles

• 10. Children use different modes for learning
  and representation.

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Activity Planning

• Quiet and Active
• Verbal and Non-verbal
• Group and Individual
• Indoor and Outdoor
• Teacher directed and Child directed

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Developmental Principles

• 11. Development flourishes in community.

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Community of Learners

• Safe and valued
• Physical needs are met
• Psychologically secure

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Specific Teacher Behaviors Children Model

• Comfort in stress
• Miss when absent
• Treat with dignity
• Decorative

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Group Activities

• Solving Problems
• Rule Making
• Group Projects
• Cooperation
• Group Memory
• Celebrations

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Methods

• Photographs
• Conflict management teams
• Committee work
• Reduce competition
• Value feelings
• Family involvement

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Final Exam

• A teacher conducts an activity for 30 minutes
  with 3-year-olds who mostly observe, listen, and
  watch.

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Final Exam

• 2. A teacher reads a picture book to a group of
  4-year-olds.

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Final Exam

• 3. A Kindergarten teacher provides one hour or
  more of free choice time during which children
  play with blocks, dress up, and use table toys
  and other early childhood materials.