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Child Labs
The BYU-Idaho Child Development Laboratories provides opportunities for students to promote the physical, social, and cognitive development of all children and work in partnership with families.

Application Form

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Application Form

The online enrollment has changed to Sandbox. Please fill out the Registration Request Form. Child lab terms are Fall (end of September to early December), Winter (end of January to early April, and Spring (early May to mid-July). Enrollment of children takes place after students are registered at mid-terms, and will occur in November, March, and June for the following term. Families will be notified in those months of their child’s placement the following semester. Waitlists will also be kept and honored if a child is not placed at the time of application. If your child has already been in labs, please do not submit another application. Contact Child Labs to be added to the waitlist for the semester you are wanting. For those wanting to enter their toddler into a lab, please do not apply until 3 months prior to them turning 18 months old.

Our Philosophy

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 Laboratories 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.

The philosophical foundation for the program is based on the accreditation standards of the National Association for the Education of Young Children and the criteria set forth in Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs (NAEYC 2009).

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, Early Childhood Special Education 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.