developmentally appropriate
Consistent with a child’s age, maturity, and/or readiness to master a particular concept or skill; of or related to teaching practices that take into account students’ level of physical or mental development.
Additional information
Focusing on how children develop and learn facilitates attention to cognitive, social, emotional and physical needs. The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) provides five guidelines for developmentally appropriate practices, particularly for early childhood education:
- creating a caring community of learners
- teaching to enhance development and learning
- constructing appropriate curriculum
- assessing children’s learning and development
- establishing beneficial relationships with families
Examples and resources
NAEYC has a position statement of guidelines for developmentally appropriate practices serving children from birth through age eight.
