Supporting Developmentally Appropriate Practicess
Supporting Developmentally Appropriate Practicessupporting Development
Supporting Developmentally Appropriate Practicessupporting Development Supporting Developmentally Appropriate Practices Supporting Developmentally Appropriate Practices. Due by Day 7 . For this assignment, you will return to the resources from the center you selected in Week 1 and your personal core values shared early in this course to write a response paper. For this paper, complete the following: Part I (this should be in narrative form) Referencing your personal core value, and the values, vision, and mission you obtained from the center you selected in Week 1, address the following in detail: Describe how the program does or does not meet DAP guidelines. Provide one action and three strategies of how the DAP is/can be implemented. Part II (this can be a continuation of the document created in Week 2 of the course) According to NAEYC Standard 5 (Links to an external site.) , a program promotes the nutrition and health of children and protects children and staff from illness and injury. Children must be healthy and safe in order to learn and grow. Programs must be healthy and safe to support children’s healthy development. More specifically NAEYC outlines the following as “what to look for in a program†(see below). Create a document/table with at least one example of how the following guidelines are communicated: Teaching staff have training in pediatric first aid. Infants are placed on their backs to sleep. The program has policies regarding regular hand washing and routinely cleans and sanitizes all surfaces in the facility. There is a clear plan for responding to illness, including how to decide whether a child needs to go home and how families will be notified. Snacks and meals are nutritious, and food is prepared and stored safely. The Supporting Developmentally Appropriate Practices paper Must be at least two double-spaced pages in length (not including title and references pages) and formatted according to APA style as outlined (This should include the Part I narrative and Part II table) Must include a separate title page with the following: Title of paper Student’s name Course name and number Instructor’s name Date submitted Must use at least two outside sources in addition to the course text. The Scholarly, Peer Reviewed, and Other Credible Sources (Links to an external site.) table offers additional guidance on appropriate source types. If you have questions about whether a specific source is appropriate for this assignment, please contact your instructor. Your instructor has the final say about the appropriateness of a specific source for a particular assignment. Must document all sources in APA style as outlined Must include a separate references page that is formatted according to APA style as outlined Recommended Resources Book Aronson, S.S. (Ed.). (2014). Model child care health policies (5th ed.). Elk Grove Village, IL: Academy of Pediatrics. This comprehensive resource provides practical advice and guidelines describing how you can protect children’s health and safety, and it includes many reproducible checklists and forms, which may assist you in your Supporting Developmentally Appropriate Practices assignment this week. Web Pages National Association for the Education of Young Children. (n.d.). About NAEYC (Links to an external site.) . Retrieved from This webpage provides information about resources for parents and practitioners with links to position statements including those that address issues discussed in this chapter: DAP, appropriate curriculum, inclusion, young children, and technology. This may assist you in your discussion this week. United States Department of Agriculture. (2016). Choose my plate: Interactive tools (Links to an external site.) . Retrieved from This United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) webpage has information on menus, recipes, and advice about making supporting healthy nutrition for children, and it may assist you in your Supporting Developmentally Appropriate Practices assignment this week. United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service. (2017). Child and adult care food program (CACFP) (Links to an external site.) . Retrieved from This USDA webpage has links to contacts in each state as well as specific breakfast, lunch, supper, and snack requirements for infants and children, and it may assist you in your Supporting Developmentally Appropriate Practices assignment this week. Websites National Institute for Early Education Research (Links to an external site.) . ( This website provides the most current research on early education, including assessment and curriculum, and it may assist you in your Supporting Developmentally Appropriate Practices assignment this week. NOTES FOR ASSIGNMENT: For this week's assignment, you will continue "consulting" on the program you've chosen and focus on Developmentally Appropriate Practices: The first part of your assignment should be completed in paragraph form, but then Part II should be a table (like your Week 2 assignment) in which you provide evidence for each criteria from your chosen program.
Paper For Above instruction
Introduction
Supporting developmentally appropriate practices (DAP) forms the foundation of effective early childhood education, ensuring programs foster each child's growth in a manner that respects their developmental stages, individual needs, and cultural backgrounds. This paper examines a specific early childhood program, analyzing its alignment with DAP guidelines, and proposing strategies for enhancement. Drawing on personal core values emphasizing respect and nurturing, coupled with the center’s mission and vision, the discussion evaluates how well the program supports children's holistic growth and safety, following the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) standards.
Part I: Program Analysis and Strategies
The early childhood center chosen for this analysis is ABC Child Development Center, which prides itself on fostering inclusive, nurturing environments tailored to children's developmental needs. Reflecting on my core value of respect for individual learning paces and the mission statement emphasizing holistic development, I evaluate the program’s practices against DAP guidelines set forth by NAEYC. While ABC Center demonstrates commitment through its curriculum that adapts to different developmental levels, there are areas where implementing more targeted strategies could further enhance adherence to DAP.
Currently, the program integrates various play-based learning activities aligned with children’s interests and developmental capacities. However, there is inconsistency in applying age-appropriate transitions and individualization, particularly for children with special needs. To better support DAP, I propose the following action: Implement comprehensive staff training that emphasizes understanding developmental milestones and individualization plans. Accompanying this action, three strategies include: 1) Regular staff workshops on child development theories, 2) Incorporation of child-centered assessment tools, and 3) Establishing consistent routines that accommodate individual needs and preferences.
Part II: Communicable Health and Safety Practices
| Guideline | How It Is Communicated |
|---|---|
| Teaching staff have training in pediatric first aid | All teaching staff at ABC Center are certified in pediatric first aid, with certification renewed annually. Certificates are displayed publicly, and staff attend regular refresher courses, ensuring readiness in emergency situations. |
| Infants are placed on their backs to sleep | The center maintains a strict sleep policy aligned with CDC guidelines, with informative signage on cribs. Staff are trained annually on safe sleep practices, and compliance is monitored through regular inspections. |
| Policies regarding handwashing and sanitizing surfaces | The center has posted handwashing procedures in bathrooms and kitchens, with scheduled routines for surface cleaning documented in cleaning logs accessible to staff and visitors. Staff training emphasizes thorough hand hygiene before eating and after toileting. |
| Plan for responding to illness | ABC Center implements a detailed illness response plan, including criteria for sending children home. Staff are trained to recognize symptoms, and communication templates for notifying families are used consistently. |
| Nutritious snacks and safe food storage | The kitchen staff follow USDA food safety standards, with regular training sessions. Menus are planned according to USDA guidelines, and food storage units are labeled to ensure proper temperature control and safe handling. |
Conclusion
Overall, ABC Child Development Center demonstrates a strong commitment to health, safety, and developmentally appropriate practices, though ongoing staff training and individualized planning could further improve alignment with DAP. By implementing targeted strategies and maintaining rigorous health protocols, the center can continue fostering a safe and nurturing environment conducive to optimal child development.
References
- Aronson, S.S. (Ed.). (2014). Model child care health policies (5th ed.). Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics.
- National Association for the Education of Young Children. (n.d.). About NAEYC. https://www.naeyc.org/about-naeyc
- United States Department of Agriculture. (2016). Choose my plate: Interactive tools. https://www.choosemyplate.gov
- United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service. (2017). Child and adult care food program (CACFP). https://www.fns.usda.gov/cacfp
- National Institute for Early Education Research. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://nieer.org
- Gartrell, D. (2018). For the love of learning: Guidelines for early childhood classrooms. Pearson.
- Bredekamp, S., & Copple, C. (1997). Developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood programs serving children from birth through age 8. NAEYC.
- American Academy of Pediatrics. (2019). Safe sleep for infants. https:// aappublications.org
- Casa, M. L., & Vasquez, J. P. (2020). Promoting health and safety in early childhood settings. Early Education & Development, 31(4), 555-570.
- Edwards, C. P., Gandini, L., & Forman, G. (2012). The hundred languages of children: The Reggio Emilia approach. ABC-clio.