1986, November — NAEYC publishes the booklet Developmentally Appropriate Practice (edited by Sue Bredekamp), the association’s first statement on the subject. The booklet included a “generic” NAEYC position statement for children birth to age 8, plus a position statement on developmentally appropriate care for infants and toddlers developed by leaders of Zero to Three; a chart contrasting “appropriate” and “inappropriate” practice examples for infants and toddlers; and an NAEYC position statement and chart specific to 4- and 5-year-olds.
1987 — NAEYC publishes the booklet Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs Serving Children from Birth through Age 8, Expanded Edition (again edited by Sue Bredekamp). This version included everything from the 1986 booklet, plus two new NAEYC position statements: for 3-year-olds and for the primary grades, each including an “appropriate/inappropriate” practice examples chart. Additional chapters addressed strategies for informing others about developmentally appropriate practice (by Margaret B. Puckett) and making successful transitions.
1996, July — After a multi-year revision process, including research review, written critiques of the positions, open forums, conference sessions, professional meetings, and convening of an NAEYC Panel of Revisions to Developmentally Appropriate Practice, the NAEYC Governing Board adopts a new, comprehensive “Position Statement on Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs Serving Children from Birth through Age 8.”
1997 — NAEYC publishes the book Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs, Revised Edition (edited by Sue Bredekamp and Carol Copple), which includes the new position statement. Additional chapters addressed “teacher as decisionmaker,” as well as described child development and learning across the age groups: infants/toddlers (by Zero to Three), 3- to 5-year-olds, and 6- to 8-year-olds, each accompanied by an expanded “appropriate/inappropriate” practice examples chart.
2008, July — After a revision process similar to the previous one and including convening of a 2007 DAP Working Group, NAEYC’s Governing Board adopts a new “2009 Position Statement on Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs Serving Children from Birth through Age 8.”
2008, November — At the Annual Meeting in Dallas, NAEYC releases the 2009 book Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs Serving Children from Birth through Age 8, Third Edition (edited by Carol Copple and Sue Bredekamp), which includes the new position statement. Additional chapters address what it means to be “an excellent teacher,” as well as describe child development and learning across the age groups: infants/toddlers (by Zero to Three), the preschool years (ages 3–5), the kindergarten year (ages 5–6), and the primary grades (ages 6–8), each accompanied by a chart of “developmentally appropriate” and “in contrast” practice examples. Included with the book is a CD of print readings and video examples of developmentally appropriate classroom practice. [The third edition of Developmentally Appropriate Practice can be ordered through our Online Store.]
