Child Care Centers and Developmentally Appropriate Practice
Does your child attend a child care center that enforces developmentally appropriate practices? Developmentally appropriate practices (DAP) is a perspective within early childhood education where a teacher/caregiver nurtures a child’s social/emotional, physical, and cognitive development by basing all practices and decisions on (1)theories of child development, (2)individually identified strengths and weaknesses of each child uncovered through authentic assessment, and (3)the child’s cultural background as defined by his community, family history, and family structure. (Source…www.wikipedia.com)
As a parent, you may say, “I don’t know?” How do you find out, easy, ASK! Talk to the director and find out what the center’s mission and goals are for the children. Then, take it one step further and visit your child’s classroom and see if you notice a strive for those goals. By getting involved and investigating these things you are being pro-active in making sure your child is getting what they deserve, the best care/learning environment possible.
