This guide provides early childhood educators with information that will facilitate the construction of a developmentally appropriate curriculum for children from birth through kindergarten age. Such a curriculum: views cognitive, language, affective, and physical development as interrelated and interdependent; is appropriate for the child's age level; is responsible to the individual developmental needs and interests of individual children; ensures continuity of goals and experiences; involves the family in the child's education; and respects and incorporates the diversity found in families. The eight sections in the guide discuss: (1) the foundations for early childhood development curriculum: (2) curriculum decision making; (3) strategies to nurture positive behavior; (4) the developmental needs of children from birth through age 3; (5) the developmental needs of children from age 3 through 6; (6) the responsibilities of a program to parents; (7) effective use of paraprofessionals in the classroom; and (8) assessment. Each section includes activities that view the child as developing in a holistic way. Contains 106 references. (SM)