One of the most important tasks in working with teachers is helping them develop their own abilities to create developmentally appropriate curriculum for young children. This paper reflects on, from two perspectives, the ongoing process of teachers developing an understanding of how children learn and how that process affects curriculum…

Suggests ways for early childhood programs to analyze the degree to which their parties, festivals, and celebrations are consistent with early childhood theory and research, and with good practice. Provides suggestions for increased integration of multicultural activities into the overall curriculum. (DR)

This paper asserts that infant-toddler teachers, like preschool teachers, need to be cognizant of individual children's developmental levels, chronological ages, and general developmental stages, as well as infant-toddler theories and developmentally appropriate practice for infants and toddlers. In that spirit, the paper describes the purpose and…

A developmentally appropriate curriculum should be an integral part of the written education and early childhood development services plan for every Head Start Program. Curriculum implementation is an ongoing process that includes developing a plan, orientating staff and families to the framework and its components, and providing continuous…

Discusses the strengths and shortcomings of "A Foundation for Implementation," a document written by early childhood teachers from Manitoba, Canada, to guide literacy and language arts instruction. Notes the importance of teacher empowerment in creating the curriculum and of developmentally appropriate practices as a foundation. (JPB)

Discusses use of monthly themes to making "sharing time" a central part of the preschool and primary curriculum. Reading picture books, sharing songs, and planning classroom activities are used to integrate the themes into all curricular areas. Discusses the developmental appropriateness of this practice and presents two examples of…

Notes progress in mainstreaming special needs children in Australian schools. Describes how the Australian National Curriculum Profiles provide achievable learning outcomes that can serve as a guide for specialized and inclusive provision for special needs children. Notes strengths and weaknesses in the profiles, which cover English, math,…

Illustrates developmentally appropriate physics activities for young children. Addresses ways that teachers can use the environment to teach physics and answers the questions: What is the value of physics for young children? What are criteria for developmentally appropriate physics activities? How does one integrate physics into a project or unit…

Provides background information on the development of NAEYC's position statements on developmentally appropriate practice and clarifies assumptions made by Kessler and others about NAEYC's positions. Offers justification for the developmentalist perspective and suggests an alternative argument for appropriate practice that draws on the strengths…

This paper examines the connection between early childhood education and feminist thinking. It presents a brief overview of feminist theory, feminist epistemology, and theories and models of early childhood education. The overview lays the groundwork for the essay's main philosophical argument: feminism's emphasis on care, concern, and connection…

The educational objective of the Russian "Development" curriculum for children ages 3-7 is the development of creative and intellectual abilities. Theoretical foundations for the curriculum include the works of Vygotsky, Venger, Leontev, and Zaporozhets, which offer ideas such as: (1) child development is the unity of affective and…

Proposes replacing the term child-centered with child-sensitive to indicate more accurately the major role of teachers in determining the curriculum and activities offered to young children. In contrast to the laissez-faire, child-indulgent approach of many child-centered programs, a child sensitive approach would encourage teachers to capitalize…

This paper focuses on the implications of the Level 1 Technology curriculum for children in Australia. In theory, the outcomes in the curriculum profile could provide useful learning experiences. However, undue emphasis is placed on the designing, making, and appraising components, which have the potential to push young children beyond their state…

This collection of essays reflects the notion that perceptions of children and childhood shape approaches to education and child rearing. The essays include: (1) "The Child Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow," on how children have been regarded throughout recorded history; (2) "Piaget and Montessori in the Classroom," examining the…

The field of early childhood education has long been marked by intense controversy concerning appropriate curriculum and teaching methods and goals. This paper explores some implications of the traditional dichotomies of the field and suggests that while there are many reasons to resist the side that advocates formal academic instruction, it does…