Most teachers persist in using highly structured teaching methods with pre-school pupils and in trying to teach academic skills for which young children are not prepared. This is the case because many teachers teach as they were taught or in ways that students' parents and relatives want. But researchers find these practices dangerous, and stress that different, developmentally appropriate early learning experiences lead to later academic success. The National Association for the Education of Young Children has defined developmentally appropriate practice, and all early educators should be familiar with their guidelines. However, teachers often find it difficult to implement developmentally appropriate practice, especially when it seems that so many of the most common early teaching activities are inappropriate. But there are sound theoretical reasons to choose developmentally appropriate alternatives to these inappopriate activities, especially when these alternative activities are easy to implement. Several developmentally inappropriate activities that are commonly used by teachers are listed. A 29-item bibliography is included. (SAK)