Example Of Developmentally Appropriate Practice Essay

Name:
Authors: Sandra Crosser, Ph.D.
Title of article: The Butterfly Garden: Developmentally Appropriate Practice Defined
Web link: /earlychildhood/article_view.aspx?ArticleID=115
Introduction and article summary
In her article, Sandra Crosser bring about the analogy of the by butterflies life and the life and development of a child relative to the environment that the two grow up in.she uses this analogy to try and explain the importance of the environment to the development of the children in light of the developmentally appropriate practices, a term coined by National Association for the Education of Young Children. According to Crosser, most of the teachers feel that they are following the right procedure in training the young children and developing their minds and body. However, that is the first indication that the teachers may be wrong and it crucial that they understand the basic elements of the DAP. She further points out that the teachers are only the guide and the children should always choose their activities. It is important that the teachers see to it that they set up the environment in the right manner to ensure that they give the children to explore and develop physically, cognitively, emotionally and socially. Where teachers set up schedules, they should consider the flexibility of these schedules to the learning process of the child that is not riddled with barriers. The physical environment should set up in manner that it offers the different children freedom to grow, as they take part in the various activities of their choice. Art work, music, clean up, physical exercises, meals, snacks and books should be left to the children where they choose their activities and get guidance by the teacher.
Developmentally Appropriate Practices
In light of the article authored by Crosser, she encourages the teachers to let the children explore their physical environments such as the playground, larg...