This comprehensive text brings together the best information currently available for developing an integrated approach to curriculum and instruction in the early years. It is designed for current and future early childhood professionals working in formal group settings with young children ranging in age from three to eight. The text also creates a bridge between the worlds of child care and early education, as well as between preprimary and primary programs. The effective ideas presented are designed to give readers a cohesive view of the what, why, and how of developmentally appropriate practices. Each chapter addresses principles of age-appropriateness, individual appropriateness, and social and cultural appropriateness.