The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is the world’s largest organization working on behalf of young children. Bringing together diverse points of view, NAEYC sets standards, crafts position statements, and develops guidelines that define excellence for early childhood professionals and programs. NAEYC has pioneered developmentally appropriate practice (DAP), the framework of which establishes principles and guidelines for best practice in the care and education of children from birth through age 8.