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Child Development Labs

Children learn best as they interact first-hand with people, their environments, and the natural world. BYU-Idaho Child Labs provide opportunities for children to use their senses in hands-on learning to develop their natural sense of curiosity and wonder.

As a teacher training program, the BYU-Idaho Child Development Labs provides opportunities for students to:

    Promote the physical, social and cognitive development of  all children
    Work in partnership with families; and become sensitive, creative, and capable early child educators

    Child Lab Programs

    Toddler Labs
    Toddler Labs serve children 18-36 months.

    Toddlers must be 18 months prior to the start date of Toddler Lab and may turn three during the course of the semester, but not before.

    Each Toddler Lab typically has 12 children.
    Preschool Labs
    Preschool-aged children are 36 months to 5 years.

    Children must not have had a 5th birthday before September 1st. If they turn 5 years old after September 1, they can participate in labs that year, before starting Kindergarten the following fall.

    We cannot accept 5-year-olds who would have otherwise started school in the fall, even if parents elect to hold them back a year.

    Preschool Labs typically have 18-20 children.
    School Age Labs
    School Age Labs serve children from Kindergarten to 3rd grade.

    School Age Lab participants must be enrolled or have completed Kindergarten prior to beginning the lab.

    The School Age Lab serves up to 24 children.
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    A BYU-Idaho student, Child Lab teacher and small children playing with blocks during Child Labs.

    After Applying to the Waitlist

    Child enrollment takes place after BYU-Idaho students are registered, and offers typically are emailed in November, March, and June for the subsequent semester.

    Child Lab Semesters:

    • Fall (end of September to early December)
    • Winter (end of January to early April)
    • Spring (early May to mid-July)

    PLEASE complete only one application for your child.

    The total fee for the entire semester is $125 for all ages.

    Your child’s application is valid for the entire time your child is of Child Lab age, and you do not need to complete a new application each semester.

    Please also note we do have an extensive waiting list for our labs, and we do our best to accommodate as many children as possible.

    1. Once your child’s application is complete, your child is automatically placed on our waiting list for future lab opportunities.
    2. Children are placed in labs according to waitlist order, but other factors such as age and balance between genders in each lab are considered.
    3. You will be notified via email of any offers your child receives to participate in our labs. You will be given a deadline to respond with acceptance. If you do not accept the spot for your child by the deadline, you will forfeit your child’s offer to the next child on the waiting list.
    4. Your child’s placement in labs is on a semester-by-semester basis, and your child is not guaranteed enrollment in consecutive semesters.
    5. If your child is accepted into our labs, you will be required to complete additional paperwork at that time, including observation consent, photography consent, immunization and medical information, and participation liability waivers.
    6. Tuition and paperwork MUST be completed by the deadline outlined on your offer paperwork. If it is not, your child’s spot will be forfeited to the next child on the waiting list.
    7. Enrollment of children is offered after our BYU-Idaho students are registered, which is approximately November, March, and June for the following semester.

    Child Labs State Licensure

    BYU-Idaho Child Labs is a licensed facility which adheres to state standards for child care organizations through Idaho STARS. The child labs are a practicum experience for student teachers at BYU-Idaho who are pursuing degrees in Child Development, Professional Preschool, and Family Consumer Science Education.

    Children of BYU-Idaho faculty and students, as well as community patrons, are welcome to apply and participate in this lab experience where future teachers are trained in their field of study.

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