Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP)

National Association For The Education Of Young Children

Newcastle Preschool uses Developmentally Appropriate Practices

This is the definitive statement on the appropriate protocols for educating small children. This new 2008 draft is the state-of-the art and science regarding Early Childhood Education. The purpose of this position statement is to promote excellence in early childhood education by providing a framework for best practice. Grounded both in the research on child development and learning and in the knowledge base regarding educational effectiveness, the framework outlines practice that promotes young children’s optimal learning and development. 2008-naeyc-dap-draft