Our Work
- Power to the Profession
  Learn about the collaborative initiative to advance a unified early childhood education profession.
- Advancing Equity Initiative
  Read about this initiative focused on equity in early childhood and find other equity-related content.
- Developmentally Appropriate Practice
  Read about NAEYC's DAP framework for high quality education.
- For Families
  Find research-based resources, tips and ideas for families—from child development to reading, writing, music, math, and more!
- Higher Education
  Search an ECE degree directory, explore professional standards, and join our community of practice.
- Public Policy and Advocacy
  Engage with our policy agendas, advocacy resources, and current initiatives.
- Global Engagement
  Learn about our work with governments and NGOs around the world to support young children and their teachers.
Resources
- Books
  Learn about and purchase the best books and resources to support young children's learning and development.
- Young Children
  Stay up to date with research-based, teacher-focused articles on birth to age 8 in our award-winning, peer-reviewed journal.
- Teaching Young Children
  Discover practical tips and innovative ideas for preschool teachers in our award-winning magazine.
- Professional Development
  Enhance your career and improve your knowledge, skills, and practices with our online training.
- Topics
  Explore key early childhood topics such Developmentally Appropriate Practice, play, and math.
- Blog
  Stay up-to-date on issues in early childhood education and hear perspectives from a wide range of educators.
- Position Statements
  Learn about NAEYC’s informed positions on significant issues affecting young children’s education and development.
Events
- Annual Conference
  Discover the latest research and best practices, and engage with our diverse community of professionals!
- Professional Learning Institute
  Ignite and fulfill your professional development goals!
- Public Policy Forum
  Join us at the members-only event and build your advocacy skills, expand your networks, and advance federal and state early childhood policy.
- Week of the Young Child
  Celebrate young children and their families with hands-on activities encouraging movement and healthy lifestyles through music, food, and art.
- Sponsor with NAEYC
  Find a sponsorship opportunity that’s right for you and help support early childhood educators, parents, and other professionals.
- Trainings & Webinars
  Deepen your professional knowledge wherever you are with NAEYC’s exciting webinar series and online and face-to-face training opportunities.
Accreditation
- Early Learning Program Accreditation
  Discover the benefits of early childhood accreditation, learn about the four step process, find support and resources for your program or login to the accreditation portal.
- Early Learning Accreditation Portal
  Login to the Early Learning Accreditation Portal to take charge of your accreditation process.
- Higher Education Accreditation
  Explore accreditation of early childhood higher education programs, discover the accreditation system standards, and view a list of accredited programs.
- Accreditation Research Databases
  Access accreditation data on early learning and higher education program characteristics and quality for research purposes.
Get Involved
- Learn about Membership
  Join your professional membership association, explore local Affiliates, and access unbeatable member benefits.
- Advance your Career
  Explore jobs in the Career Center and find higher education and professional development opportunities.
- Become an Advocate
  Develop grassroots efforts advancing early childhood in your community with these tools and resources.
- Join our Communities
  Say HELLO and discuss, network, and connect with our interest forums and online communities.
- Align with Us
  Support our mission and reach the NAEYC audience through your advertisement, conference exhibit booth, or sponsorship.
- Leadership Opportunities
  Become a leader in your professional association.
About Us
- People
  Read about NAEYC’s leadership, mission, values and beliefs, and strategic governance.
- Partner
  Become an organizational or corporate partner to inspire early childhood education at the local and national level.
- News and Updates
  Stay current on all things related to your professional association, from book releases to policy updates.
- Careers at NAEYC
  Join NAEYC’s team and help us advance the education of young children across the country.
- Donate
  Support access to high-quality early childhood education programs and opportunities and resources for educators.
- Contact Us
  Contact us with your questions-- we're here to help!
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All Developmentally Appropriate Practice Content

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Science, Math, and Technology Interest Forums

NAEYC's Interest Forums on Science, Math, and Technology

Members Only

Two young professionals in a meeting room

Interest Forums on Culture

Network and dialogue with colleagues on topics related to diversity and equity

Members Only

Cover of Basics of Developmentally Appropriate Practice: An Introduction for Teachers of Kindergartners

Book

January 1, 2013

Excerpt from Basics of Developmentally Appropriate Practice: An Introduction for Teachers of Kindergartners

Read an excerpt from Basics of DAP: An Introduction for Teachers of Kindergartners

Members Only

Caring for Infants and Toddlers in Groups: Developmentally Appropriate Practice, Second Edition

Book

January 1, 2008

Caring for Infants and Toddlers in Groups: Developmentally Appropriate Practice, Second Edition

Match activities with how children think and grow

Members Only

An adult interacting with two children.

Article

Young Children

May 1, 2017

The Case of Brain Science and Guided Play: A Developing Story

Free play and guided play—together known as playful learning—are pedagogical tools through which children can learn in joyful and conceptually rich ways.

Authored by

Authored by:

Brenna Hassinger-Das, Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, Roberta Michnick Golinkoff

Members Only

Diverse multicultural kids learning about culture and cuisine

Blog

March 28, 2016

Chopsticks or Forks: Contextualizing Developmentally Appropriate Practice in a Global Age

The settings in which children practice new skills work best when the environment reflects the individual child, family, and community.

Authored by

Authored by:

Stephanie Olmore

Members Only

Four diverse professionals looking at computer screen

Blog

March 20, 2016

20 DAP Checklist Questions for Teachers

Adapted from an online Author Q&A with Heather Biggar Tomlinson, contributing author of Developmentally Appropriate Practice: Focus on Preschoolers

Authored by

Authored by:

Georgi-Ann Clarke

Members Only

Child reading out loud.

Article

Teaching Young Children

December 1, 2015

Explaining Developmentally Appropriate Practice to Families

Some simple ways to explain developmentally appropriate practice to parents.

Authored by

Authored by:

Heather Biggar Tomlinson

Members Only

Children interact on a playground.

Article

Young Children

September 1, 2015

Helping Others Understand Academic Rigor in Teachers’ Developmentally Appropriate Practices

Developmentally appropriate practice considers the whole landscape of learning—the motivational, cultural, and social and emotional as well as the cognitive.

Authored by

Authored by:

Christopher Pierce Brown, Beth Smith Feger, Brian Mowry

Members Only