Kristina Gawrgy

202-350-8857

February 24, 2009         

 

 

NAEYC produces three distance learning programs to help early childhood educators understand and implement the new Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP)

 

(Washington, D.C.) – The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) has produced three distance learning programs on “Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) in Early Childhood Programs Serving Children from Birth through Age 8.” The programs will help educators, administrators and other stakeholders understand what’s new and what remains appropriate practice for teaching young children.

 

The first video of the three programs is available online for free at www.naeyc.org/DAP/pdt. 

 

First released in 1986, DAP is a set of principles of what is developmentally appropriate for young children at different stages in general, and in terms of individual children’s context of family, culture, community and other life experiences.

 

“Our commitment to excellence and equity in educating all young children remains the foundation of DAP, and all three distance learning programs will communicate the main principles to early childhood educators to ensure all children receive the high-quality education they deserve,” said Peter Pizzolongo, associate director for professional development at NAEYC.

 

The first released video’s theme is “continuity and change.” Central to DAP are NAEYC’s fundamental commitments to excellence and equity in educating children and understanding how children learn and develop. However, new knowledge and research gained over the last decade have helped us to revise and refine our ideas to ensure the most appropriate practices are used. The second and third program themes are intentional teaching and play, respectively, and will be available for purchase in Spring and Fall 2009.

 

With the release of the first video, approximately 100 state, local and regional NAEYC Affiliates will be holding community forums to introduce the newly revised DAP to teachers, administrators, faculty, trainers, and policy makers. Attendees will be able to discuss the implications of the new guidelines and ask questions on how they can best implement any changes into their own classrooms and programs. Questions will be compiled and addressed during a podcast with Carol Copple and Sue Bredekamp, editors of DAP, this spring. Community forums will take place over the next several months. To find out if a forum is taking place near you, please contact Kristina Gawrgy at 202-350-8857 or at kgawrgy@naeyc.org.

 

 

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