This monograph explores issues around the position of child development knowledge in early childhood education. Part 1 of the monograph raises questions regarding the role of such knowledge in teaching young children and its place in teacher education. This section considers the definition of "development," the type of child development knowledge that should be learned, the potential for professional agreement of a body of child development knowledge and principles that must be mastered by students, and reasons why the role of child development knowledge in pedagogy has become a contentious issue. Part 2 outlines how understanding the nature of child development can be used to generate basic principles of practice for early childhood education that satisfy developmental criteria. This section proposes 19 principles of early childhood practices that have implications for planning curricula and programs for young children. Included in this monograph are selected ERIC annotated bibliographies on early childhood teacher education and developmentally appropriate practices in early childhood education. (Contains approximately 25 references.) (Author)