This handbook is intended to help Chapter 1 project staff create a developmentally appropriate early childhood program for preschool and kindergarten through second grade. It is a companion piece to two workshops developed to acquaint early childhood staff with developmentally appropriate practices. An introduction describes the philosophy and effects of developmentally appropriate programs. A section on program development discusses issues critical to developing developmentally appropriate programs, steps in program implementation, and five programs in three northwestern states. A section on program assessment considers guidelines and issues relevant to program assessment, approaches to developmentally appropriate assessment, the establishment of desired program outcomes, and program evaluation. A list of 15 references is provided. Appendices include: a guide to child development; a 35-item annotated bibliography; a teacher survey; a sample developmentally appropriate curriculum; a list of activities designed to encourage parent involvement; descriptions of accountability standards for early childhood education; a summary of characteristics of several screening and assessment instruments; a copy of a parent questionnaire; a description of desired educational outcomes; and a profile of developmentally appropriate assessment practices. (BC)