I. Vision:

CSC Child Development Center aspires to be a premiere Laboratory that serves the educational needs of academic programs and service needs of students and staff at Chadron State College.

II. Mission:

The Laboratory meets the academic needs of students for experiential educational learning. Students pursuing baccalaureate degrees from three separate and unique programs (Family and Consumer Sciences,Education and Special Education) utilize the Laboratory to complete course requirements.

III. Description:

The primary function of the Laboratory is to serve as a support to the academic preparation of students at Chadron State College. The Laboratory also serves as an outreach to the community and area by providing high quality child care to families with young children, field placement for middle and high school students in addition to Job Corp and the Alliance Practical Nursing program, and a site for volunteerism for senior citizens and alumni.

IV. Purpose:

The purpose of the CSC Child Development Center Laboratory is three-fold:

1. To provide undergraduate and graduate students educational opportunities that support practical reasoning, critical thinking and application of knowledge base information in a realistic setting,
2. To provide families with young children between the ages of 2 and 9 high quality, developmentally appropriate, active learning and naturally inclusive early childhood experiences that support individualized learning and development.
3. To provide an environment for students to conduct applied research under the supervision of qualified faculty.

V. Objectives:

• Institutional Community:
  • Constantly strive for an atmostphere of mutual support and respect among faculty, staff, families and children
  • Recognize and celebrate the uniqueness of every individual
• Public Relations:
  • Create a positive relationship between the Laboratory, FCS program, College, and local and regional communities
  • Create a strong image and positive awareness for the mission of the Laboratory
• Regional Service:
  • Recognize, assess, and provide for the differing needs of students, families and children
  • Assume a leadership role in promoting high quality early learning
• Resources and Facilities:
  • Focus resources on defined priorities and productive activities
  • Maintain modern, safe, accessible, and functional facilities that meet the program needs and expectations of future educators
  • Generate new sources of public, private, and internal funding
• Teaching and Learning:
  • Provide students with a broad range of flexible and creative alternative learning opportunities through active learning, natural and inclusive environment
  • Review and modify curriculum to reflect desired student learning outcomes
  • Introduce and promote global awareness, multicultural perspectives and regional relevance
  • Expose students to and develop an understanding of diversity and multicultural perspectives
  • Provide innovative and supportive learning opportunities for students at all levels of competency
  • Develop skills for accessing information and evaluating individual development through natural, inclusive settings
  • Integrate acquisition, discovery, and application of knowledge and experimental learning to develop students' higher-level learning and applied skills
  • Merge creative teaching and learning principles with authentic application and assessment experiences

Note: Objectives are in alignment with the 2003-2011 Institutional Vision for Chadron State College.

The CSC Child Development Center Laboratory supports the philosophy of “constructivism” allowing children to actively construct their own learning supported through a natural, inclusive environment.

The Laboratory staff believe that “all children can learn” if given the opportunity to become actively involved in their world supported by loving, caring adults who understand child growth and development.

The Laboratory staff believe in ‘PLAY-based’ learning where children's work is their play and their play is their work.

The Laboratory staff believe learning should be fun and enjoyable throughout life but especially in the early years.

The Laboratory staff believe in providing developmentally appropriate learning opportunities for children that support individual learning.

The program philosophy is to assist adults and children as they

• develop a positive, healthy self-concept
• grow and develop socially, emotionally, physically, and intellectually
• develop in a warm, safe, secure, friendly, and loving environment
• develop a wholistic, well-rounded personality by providing opportunities to actively engage in learning experiences both inside and outside
• develop self-discipline and independence
• feel dignity and respect
• verbally express their feelings and emotions
• develop character and understanding of the world around
• receive nutritious snacks and lunches
• receive a high quality planned program that creates interest, sparks creativity, and is supported with a routine
• prepare for transitions from one educational experience to another

“From the very beginning of his or her education, the child should experience the joy of discovery.” -- Alfred North Whitehead

“Children have real understanding only of that which they invent themselves, and each time that we try to teach them something too quickly, we keep them from re-inventing it themselves.” -- Jean Piaget

“...the more interests a child has at least a chance to acquire, the more chance he will have to hit upon some interests that are suited to his particular gifts.” -- Alfred T. Jersild

The Chadron State College Child Development Center Laboratory is a licensed, nationally accredited, natural and inclusive early childhood program.

The Laboratory serves as an educational opportunity for students, and a child care and education facility for families with young children between the ages of 2 and 9.

The Laboratory serves as a model for quality early learning experiences that support active learning and developmentally appropriate practices as the natural process of growth occurs socially, emotionally, physically and intellectually.

The High Scope curriculum is used to promote the connection between the child's natural instinct to learn and the environment.

High Scope curriculum is based on a plan, do and review process that allows children to develop life skills.

The Child Development Center Laboratory is in operation to:

• provide students the opportunity for practical application of knowledge base information and skill development
• provide quality care and education for all children, regardless of income, race, religion, residence, gender, ability or origin
• provide educational support opportunities for families

** Parent and family involvement is strongly encouraged and always welcome!

Annually the CSC Child Development Center Laboratory Advisory Board reviews and updates policy governing the structure and operation of the Laboratory. Policies are established to support quality initiatives required by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services licensing agency, the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs accreditation standards, and the Head Start guidelines established by the federal government.

A copy of current policies is available for review in the Laboratory.

7:00 – 8:00 Welcome, Check-in, Drop-Off, Self-Discovery
- Families and children check in
- Self-discovery time- children choose an activity of their interest to engage in and explore (Dramatic Play, writing/drawing, manipulatives, loft, blocks, book/literacy area)
8:00 – 8:30 Morning Large Groups
- May consist of songs, dancing, calendar, weather, story-time, alphabet, number & literacy exploration, sign language practice
8:30 – 9:00 Breakfast
- Children and teachers sit together and eat a family style meal
9:00 – 9:15 Morning Meeting & Daily Lesson
- Songs and dancing or book exploration
- Children and teachers all meet for morning lesson and briefly discuss the theme
9:15 – 10:00 Small Group Time/Stations → Self-Discovery
- Children are divided into groups based on their developmental levels/needs for a teacher guided themed activity/stations. Children engage in self-discovery when stations are complete (Dramatic play, writing/drawing, manipulatives, loft, blocks, book/literacy area, mathematics, sensory, etc.)
10:00 – 11:00 Outside Time
- Children and teachers engage in gross motor/physical activities in our Nature Explore Certified parks, weather permitting (Indoor gross motor also available)
11:00 – 12:00 Lunch
- Teachers bring children inside one group at a time to sit together and eat our sack lunches while engaging in conversation and encouraging independence and clean-up skills
11:45 – 12:00 Self-Discovery
- Children choose an activity of their interest while they wait for all their friends to finish lunch (Manipulatives or book/literacy exploration)
12:00 – 12:15 Bathroom & Brushing Teeth
- Children transition one group at a time into the bathroom, wash hands, potty, and brush their teeth
12:15 – 2:00 Nap Time
- Children in need of a nap rest on cots with soft music
12:15 – 1:00 Outside Time
- Children who do not nap, go outside to engage in gross motor/physical activities in our Nature Explore Certified parks, weather permitting (Indoor gross motor also available)
1:00 – 2:00 Midday
- Children who do not nap engage in preschool activities to help develop literacy, language, cognitive, physical, social emotional, mathematics, science, technology, and arts skills
2:00 – 2:30 Self Discovery
- Children choose an activity of their interest (Manipulatives, writing/drawing, dramatic play, science, sensory, book/literacy exploration)
2:30 – 3:00 Snack
- Children and teachers sit together and eat snack (style of eating varies: outside picnic, inside family style, etc.)
3:00 – 3:30 Outside Time
- Children and teachers engage in gross motor/physical activities in our Nature Explore Certified parks, weather permitting
3:30 – 4:30 Afternoon Stations
- Children of mixed ages are divided into small groups to engage in various math, science, art, and exploration stations
4:30 – 5:30 Self-Discovery/Outside Time
- Children and teachers choose an activity of their interest to engage in and explore inside or outside
5:30 Goodbye & Closing