Creating a Caring, Equitable Community of Learners (Guideline 1 for Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Action)

A key resource on the topic of building a caring community of learners is the NAEYC position statement on developmentally appropriate practice (DAP).The first guideline for implementing DAP stresses the importance of how early learning settings help children learn how to treat others and how they can expect to be treated. It specifies that “the foundation for the community is consistent, positive, caring relationships,” and stresses how “each member of the learning community is valued for what they bring to the community.” Read this section of the position statement on DAP to learn about ways in which early childhood educators should be addressing the content of this guideline.