A Piagetian-based early childhood education program is compared with the Lavatelli program and the Weikart program. Interpretation and application of Piaget's theory are examined on a number of levels: conceptualization of curriculum objectives, methods of teaching, principles of teaching, and the role of the teacher. Lavatelli's program is commended for interpretation of Piaget's theory and Weikart's program for theory application. It is emphasized that a primary consideration in deriving curriculum goals from Piaget's theory should be that short-term cognitive goals should be set in the context of long-term goals, i.e., formal operations. (CS)