The chart addresses developmentally appropriate practice in five areas important to the teachers role: creating a caring community of learners, teach-ing to enhance development and learning. planning curriculum to achieve important goals, assessing children's development and learning, and establish-ing reciprocal relationships with families. The set of examples offered here is not exhaustive, and the goal is not to describe best practice comprehensively. We have tried to capture major aspects of practice that one sees in excellent early childhood programs and, by contrast, in those programs that in some respects have not achieved a high level of quality. Neither is the aim to issue a prescriptive formula to be rigidly followed. Instead, the examples are meant to encourage readers to reflect on their practice. Establishing a habit of thought- ful refiection is essential in working with young children because of their vary-ing family backgrounds, preferences, and needs.