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.