ABOUT US

Purpose 1. To provide a laboratory experience for undergraduate and graduate students in child development, early childhood education and other related fields. 2. To provide a setting for approved research. 3. To provide a high quality child care program for children from the age of 4 months until they begin kindergarten. 4. To provide a parent education/involvement program designed to meet the needs of the working parent(s). 5. To provide a model facility for educational and social agencies concerned about child care. 6. To serve as a source of information for persons and/or employers who are interested in establishing quality child care facilities.

Objectives 1. To facilitate decision-making and problem-solving abilities in young children through a variety of open-ended experiences that allow children to creatively formulate their own ideas; 2. To enhance a positive sense of self in children through opportunities for uninterrupted concentration on activities with varying levels of complexity to allow both mastery and challenge; 3. To provide a warm, nurturing, and respectful environment in order to encourage children to develop empathy and respect for others and their natural surroundings; 4. To provide a context for learning that fosters relationships among people of diverse racial, ethnic, economic, age, family structure, and ability levels; 5. To provide children with choices in order to facilitate development of autonomy, sense of initiative, and self-discipline; 6. To include families in the education of their children by building partnerships which encourage their participation; 7. To provide knowledgeable and nurturing teachers whose understanding of child development and developmentally appropriate practices allows them to successfully guide children’s learning 8. To respect children’s abilities to resolve conflicts and disagreements through encouragement, guidance, and intervention as needed by the teachers.