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CDL History
The University of Missouri-Columbia Child Development Lab (CDL) started well over 60 years ago. It began as a part-day program for two-five year-olds and shortly after expanded to a full-day program, adding infant/toddler and school-age programs.
The program encourages and supports the development of each child and provides opportunities for self-exploration and discovery. An assumption of the program is that the children are active and curious; it is a goal to provide learning experiences designed to stimulate the child's creative learning abilities.
The overall development (cognitive, social, emotional, physical) of the child is considered and planned for through a variety of activities. One important objective is to learn the needs of each individual child in the program and to plan for the successful fulfillment of those needs.
Positive development of the child's image of self is of prime importance and is a priority in all aspects of program planning. The young child is also a member of a family. Therefore, it is important to work with the family in creating the best possible environment for the child while at the lab.
CDL is part of the department of Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS). It is located within the department near faculty offices and is used as a demonstration site for college students. Each classroom is equipped with a private observation booth that lines the length of the classroom. Inside the observation booth one-way mirrors allow observers to see the entire classroom, and headsets and microphones allow observers to hear the children, students, and teachers interacting.
Faculty and students from HDFS, as well as other departments, may request to involve the children and their parents as research participants. There is one other child care facility on campus that is for parents who are students, but there is no relationship between the two facilities.
Every undergraduate in Human Development and Family Studies and Early Childhood Education must take at least one Child Development Lab course. Students in other departments are allowed to enroll in the lab course, but are not required. The courses vary from working five hours per week to 20 hours per week in the lab. In addition, college seniors work in a community child care program 20 hours per week for their final student-teaching experience.
The lab is primarily funded by parent fees, but the University provides the facility, maintenance work, custodial services, and salaries for the Director and the three instructors who teach the college courses. Families with low-incomes receive support via the Department of Social Services child care subsidy program. The lab also offers a small scholarship fund to assist families in crisis.
CDL Staff
The CDL staff consists of:
- Part-time Director who is a Professor in HDFS
- Laboratory Instructors, who all have master's degrees in child development and are responsible for the children in the program as well as instructing the college classes
- Assistant Instructors, who all have bachelor's or master's degrees in child development and are assistant instructors in the college courses
- Student teachers, who begin working with the children as early as their sophomore year
- Cook and Secretary
CDL Program
The CDL program includes:
- Five programs with children ranging from six weeks of age through third grade
- A total enrollment of ~90 children
- Children from across the community are enrolled (families typically represent lower and middle SES, children with special needs, and children from approximately 15 different countries/cultures
- Hours are from 7:00 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday-Friday, 12 months a year
- One infant-toddler program (n=15)
- Two full-day preschool programs (n=39)
- One part-day preschool program (n=10)
- One before/after school program (n=24-29)
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