Back to School Refresher: Developmentally Appropriate Practice, Universal Design for Learning, and Child Development Resources!

Chief among the professional responsibilities of early childhood educators is the responsibility to plan and implement intentional, developmentally appropriate learning experiences that promote the social and emotional development, physical development and health, cognitive development, and general learning competencies of each child served.¹ But what does it mean to be “developmentally appropriate”? The NAEYC position statement defines the term. The definition emerges from a set of evidence-based core considerations and principles of child development and learning, all of which are explained in the principles section of this statement.  Further understanding comes from the following guidelines that address decisions that early childhood professionals make in six key and interrelated areas of practice: (1) creating a caring community of learners; (2) engaging in reciprocal partnerships with families and fostering community connections; (3) observing, documenting and assessing children’s development and learning; (4) teaching to enhance each child’s development and learning; (5) planning and implementing an engaging curriculum to achieve meaningful goals; and (6) demonstrating professionalism as an early childhood educator. Visit the NAEYC Position Statement website for more information.

NAEYC experts Susan Friedman and Alissa Mwenelupembe present on the importance of understanding Developmentally Appropriate Practice: Children are born eager to learn but not all settings support joyful learning. Responsive relationships are key. How educators encourage educational/social/emotional well-being is what Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) is all about. But children from under-resourced communities (many BIPOC) have less access to engaged joyful learning, contributing to the opportunity gap.

Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) is an educational framework designed to promote young children’s optimal learning and development. Learn more about DAP in this video. This book is a summary of the work of Carol Copple, Janet Gonzalez-Mena, and Sue Bredekamp.

An effective teacher or family child care provider chooses a strategy to fit a particular situation. It’s important to consider what the children already know and can do and the learning goals for the specific situation. By remaining flexible and observant, we can determine which strategy may be most effective. Often, if one strategy doesn’t work, another will. This article describes each strategy and gives you access to a downloadable infographic with all 10 strategies.  Download it and laminate it for regular use! (PDF)

“Developmentally appropriate practice requires both meeting children where they are—which means that teachers must get to know them well —and enabling them to reach goals that are both challenging and achievable.”

As a practitioner caring for children, it is your responsibility to seek out and intentionally plan the best opportunities for children that support their over-all well being and healthy development. The practices that you use when working with young children need to embrace the most current, effective approaches in learning and development. These can be described as best practices, thoughtful teaching, quality practices, or Developmentally Appropriate Practices (DAP). DAP comes from a deep history in early education, research, and what many describe as “good thinking.”

This Tip Sheet on Child Development Principles and DAP Decision-Making Tool (PDF) from Better Kid Care of PennState Extension lays out key messages from the NAEYC Position Statement, lists the child development principles that inform DAP, provides a brief decision-making tool to help guide in your implementation of DAP.

“Developmentally appropriate practice requires both meeting children where they are—which means that teachers must get to know them well —and enabling them to reach goals that are both challenging and achievable.”

This “News You Can Use” explores the meaning behind developmentally appropriate practice and working with infants and toddlers. The real-life scenarios from Head Start are informative and provide a closer look at the foundational role relationships play in developmentally appropriate practice.

As a parent, you are your child’s first teacher. You have experienced how fascinating and how puzzling your young child can sometimes be. We invite you to explore with us information that can help you understand your child’s learning and discover new ways to support your growing child.

Articles and videos in multiple languages explain what can be expected in various developmental domains for various ages of children.

Since 1985, Pathways.org has helped parents and healthcare professionals work together to maximize babies’ development. For over 40 years, we have provided free and trusted resources to identify early motor, sensory, communication, and feeding delays while also offering information to help all babies.

With a focus is on infants and toddlers, the  website includes milestones by age group and developmental domain, video examples, checklists, helpful articles about early intervention, social-emotional skills, play, activities for each age group and more. It also provides a library of videos with parenting information and activities for each age group.

Every child is different, and so is every parent’s experience; but experts have a clear idea about the range of normal development from birth to age 5 — and signs that a child might have a developmental delay. Below you’ll find milestones organized by period of development, and tips on when to contact a health professional about your concerns. Remember — there is no penalty for being cautious about your growing child, and if there is a problem acting early can make all the difference.

The information available in English and Spanish. It also includes “developmental health watch” descriptions to alert you to behaviors that may indicate a developmental delay.

• Provides professional development with the free 4 module Watch Me! Celebrating Milestones and Sharing Concerns training module (updated in 2024 and includes opportunity to gain CEU’s).
• Guides providers in sharing information and resources with families
• Gives access to free materials to share with families and a downloadable milestone poster. Most materials are in English and Spanish
• Tips for Talking with Parents About Developmental Concerns (PDF)
  This tip sheet reinforces the messages in the MAP PowerPoint, Talking to Parents When You Have Concerns About a Child in Your Care

Childcare providers throughout California can play a vital role in identifying potential developmental delays in the children they care for at an early stage, thereby ensuring those children can receive resources and support as soon as possible. In this video, we look at the importance of early identification and signs to look out for, resources that exist for parents, and how childcare providers can help parents access those resources.

Did you know that every Regional Center throughout California has a Family Resource Center (FRC)? These FRCs work in partnership with the Regional Centers and LEAs and provide parents, families and children with information and resources regarding early intervention services. In this video, the San Gabriel Pomona Parents’ Place Family Resource & Empowerment Center highlights how FRCs support families as their children enter early childhood education and prepare for school-aged programs, empowering them to becoming active partners in the process.

The California Department of Education (CDE) released the Preschool Through Third Grade (P-3) Learning Progressions on August 14, 2025. The learning progressions are designed to strengthen alignment and coherence across preschool to third grade. They are now available on the CDE P-3 Alignment web page.

Educators and administrators in early education can use the P-3 Learning Progressions to support developmentally appropriate, joyful learning and seamless transitions from preschool through third grade.

This resource includes the knowledge and skills children develop over the P-3 continuum and in practice examples that illustrate how educators can use playful, inquiry-based teaching practices to engage children in developmentally appropriate learning experiences. 

• Introduction (PDF)
• Language and Literacy Development (PDF)
• Social and Emotional Development (PDF)
• Math (PDF)
• Science (PDF)
• Approaches to Learning (PDF)