It’s OK to Play!It’s OK to Play!It’s OK to Play!It’s OK to Play!How to recognizeHow to recognize

DDevelopmentally evelopmentally AAppropriate ppropriate PPracticeractice

What is DAP?Developmentally appropriate practice is based on:

• Knowledge about how children develop and learn

• What should be learned and how it would best be learned depending on developmental level

• Our understanding of the relationships between early experience and subsequent development

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

Why use DAP?• Areas of children's development

physical, social, emotional, and cognitive are closely related. Development in one area influences and is influenced by development in other areas.

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

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

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

• 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

• 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

Where is DAP?(Where should DAP be???)

• Anywhere!• As parents it is your responsibility to

ensure your child is receiving DAP: – In a center– In a home setting– In a classroom– In a group setting (afterschool, field

trips, sports games, church, etc.)

Observing 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/AreasLarge Group and Circle Time

Music and Silly Sounds

Science and MathBlocks/TrucksHousekeepingArt

Remember. . . Literacy and fine motor skills abound!

LiteracyIt’s EVERYWHERE!

• Books• Puppets• Flannel Boards• Daily Schedule• Labels• Names• Fingerplays• Music and Dance• Rhymes

Print Rich EnvironmentModel 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?

Silly Sounds• Rhyme and Repetition• Animal Sounds• Nursery Rhymes and Finger Plays• Let child finish the line

– “Hickory Dickory Dock, the mouse ran up the _____.”

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

Softness

CouchesCushionsPillowsRugsCurtainsTextures

Aesthetic AppealWhat do you “C”?

CentersColorfulCleanClutter-freeCozyChild friendly