Got DAP?Got DAP?Developmentally Appropriate Practice

Traci DanielEC 100May 11, 2012

Why use DAP?

• 1. Domains of children's development physical, social, emotional, and cognitive are closely related. Development in one domain influences and is influenced by development in other domains.

http://www.naeyc.org/about/positions/dap3.asp

• 2. Development occurs in a relatively orderly sequence, with later abilities, skills, and knowledge building on those already acquired.

http://www.naeyc.org/about/positions/dap3.asp

• 3. Development proceeds at varying rates from child to child as well as unevenly within different areas of each child's functioning.

– http://www.naeyc.org/about/positions/dap3.asp

• 4. Early experiences have both cumulative and delayed effects on individual children's development; optimal periods exist for certain types of development and learning.

– http://www.naeyc.org/about/positions/dap3.asp

• 5. Development proceeds in predictable directions toward greater complexity, organization, and internalization.

– http://www.naeyc.org/about/positions/dap3.asp

• 6. Development and learning occur in and are influenced by multiple social and cultural contexts.

– http://www.naeyc.org/about/positions/dap3.asp

• 7. Children are active learners, drawing on direct physical and social experience as well as cul-turally transmitted knowledge to construct their own understandings of the world around them.

http://www.naeyc.org/about/positions/dap3.asp

• 8. Development and learning result from interaction of biological maturation and the environment, which includes both the physical and social worlds that children live in.

– http://www.naeyc.org/about/positions/dap3.asp

• 9. Play is an important vehicle for children's social, emotional, and cognitive development, as well as a reflection of their development.

– http://www.naeyc.org/about/positions/dap3.asp

• 10. Development advances when children have opportunities to practice newly acquired skills as well as when they experience a challenge just beyond the level of their present mastery.

– http://www.naeyc.org/about/positions/dap3.asp

• 11. Children demonstrate different modes of knowing and learning and different ways of representing what they know.

– http://www.naeyc.org/about/positions/dap3.asp

• 12. Children develop and learn best in the context of a community where they are safe and valued, their physical needs are met, and they feel psychologically secure.

– http://www.naeyc.org/about/positions/dap3.asp

Designing The Learning Environment

Well defined centers/areas Materials for centers/areas

Focus on literacy and fine motor skills and many print-rich opportunities!

Room ArrangementTraffic PatternsAesthetic Appeal

Centers/Areas

Large Group and Circle TimeMusic and Silly Sounds

Science and MathBlocks/TrucksHousekeepingArt

Remember. . . Literacy and fine motor skills abound!

Print Rich Environment

Model Correct PrintLabels, Labels, LabelsName RecognitionDaily Schedule Pocket ChartMeaningful PrintBooks available in centersGraphing, voting, writing“What noise does a turtle make?”

Fine Motor Development

• What - use of hand and finger muscles to increase dexterity

• Why – to increase ability to perform self help skills and later increase writing skills

• How. . .

Fine Motor• Puzzles• Beads• Snaps/Zippers/Buttons• Legos• Sensory:

Beans, rice,Sand, shavingCream, mud!

Large Group

• Books• Circle Time• Discussions• Class Rules• Games• Music/Dance• Large Motor Activities• Social Skills

Science and Math• Sensory table/tub• Experiments• Bubbles• Food color• Shaving cream• Simple Recipes• Plants & Animals• Small toys for

– Counting, sorting, classifying, measuring• Calendar and Weather

Blocks/Trucks• Unit Blocks• Brick blocks• Homemade blocks (juice cartons, foodboxes, etc.)• Large push trucks• Small cars/trucks• Road map rug• People, animals, characters• Materials to “make a scene”

Housekeeping

• Kitchen set• Food/Dishes• Variety of dolls• Broom/Mop/Vacuum• Dress up clothes/Shoes/Hats• Change often to fit theme (Pizza Parlor, Barber Shop,

Camping…)

Music• House hold items• Pots, pans, spoons• Bottle shakers• Blank CDs• Dance, clap, shake, sway, rock to rhythm• How does the music make you feel?• Close your eyes…What do you see?

“Process” Art• Tempera Paint• Finger Paint• Watercolors• Drawing• Easel• Collage• Stamps• NOT “PROJECT ART”• Limit “CRAFTS”

A quick DAP review. . .

• What is it?• Why use it?• Where should we use it?• How do we use it?• Who? It’s all up to you! When?

ALWAYS!