12 Principles of Child Development and Learning that Inform Practice | National Association for the Education of Young Children

12 Principles of Child Development and Learning

All areas of development and learning are important.
Learning and development follow sequences.
Development and learning proceed at varying rates.
Development and learning result from an interaction of maturation and experience.
Early experiences have profound effects on development and learning.
Development proceeds toward greater complexity, self-regulation, and symbolic or representational capacities.
Children develop best when they have secure relationships.
Development and learning occur in and are influenced by multiple social and cul¬tural contexts.
Children learn in a variety of ways.
Play is an important vehicle for devel¬oping self-regulation and pro¬moting language, cognition, and social competence.
Development and learning advance when children are challenged.
Children’s experiences shape their motivation and approaches to learning.

For more information about DAP, the 3 Core Considerations, the 12 Principles of Child Development and Learning, and the 5 Guidelines for Effective Teaching, read the NAEYC position statement "Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs Serving Children from Birth through Age 8" (PDF), adopted in 2009.

DAP Resources
DAP Overview DAP Position Statement DAP Essential Resources FAQ DAP with Infants and Toddlers DAP with Preschoolers DAP with Kindergarteners DAP in the Early Primary Grades

What is DAP?
3 Core Considerations 12 Principles of Child Development 5 Guidelines for Effective Teaching 10 Suggested Teaching Strategies

DAP Books
	Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs Serving Children from Birth through Age 8 (3rd ed.)
	DAP Basics Kit for Preschool Educators
	Basics of Developmentally Appropriate Practice: An Introduction for Teachers of Infants & Toddlers
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