The purpose of this position statement is to promote excellence in early childhood education by providing a framework for best practice. Grounded both in the research on child development and learning and in the knowledge base regarding educational effectiveness, the framework outlines practice that promotes young children's optimal learning and development. Since its first adoption in 1986, this framework has been known as "developmentally appropriate practice". This position statement presents twelve principles of child development and learning that inform practice as well as five guidelines for developmentally appropriate practice. (Contains 132 notes.)