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:
Child Lab Programs
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.
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 Lab participants must be enrolled or have completed Kindergarten prior to beginning the lab.
The School Age Lab serves up to 24 children.
Child Lab Enrollment
Child lab spots are often in high demand and families will likely experience a waiting period from the time they apply for their child to be in lab to the time their child is actually enrolled.
Children are accepted to the program according to the waitlist order. We strive to have an equal number of boys and girls in each of our classrooms, which will be taken into consideration when offering spots to children.
Children are accepted into each class according to:
- Age
- Gender
- Waitlist order
Our goal is to offer each child 2 semesters in each age group (2 toddler, 2 preschool, 2 school age), when possible.
With enrollment, there will be a tuition fee and paperwork, both of which must be completed by the deadline, or your child will not be able to attend lab.
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.
- Once your child’s application is complete, your child is automatically placed on our waiting list for future lab opportunities.
- Children are placed in labs according to waitlist order, but other factors such as age and balance between genders in each lab are considered.
- 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.
- Your child’s placement in labs is on a semester-by-semester basis, and your child is not guaranteed enrollment in consecutive semesters.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
