PHILOSOPHY
The Child Development Laboratory (CDL) provides a setting for Wayne State University students and faculty to study human development. It also offers developmental education for children from 2 1/2 up to kindergarten age. The program of the CDL reflects current theory and research in Reggio Emilia Approach and Multiple Intelligences. Reggio Emilia Approach views children as strong, resourceful and curious being capable of constructing their own learning, it emphasizes: documentation, emergent curriculum, community collaboration, the environment and respect for a child's pace of learning. It is a collaborative teaching model that fosters children's intellectual development through a systematic focus on symbolic representation. Young children are encouraged to explore their environment and express themselves through all of their natural “languages” or modes of expression such as painting, drawing, sculpture, language, movement, music and dramatic play. Classrooms are organized to support a highly collaborative problem-solving approach to learning, especially the use of small group work in project learning. The Theory of Multiple Intelligences suggests that there are at least eight different intelligences including linguistic; logical-mathematical; musical; bodily-kinesthetic; spatial; interpersonal; intrapersonal; naturalist, and that everyone possesses some degree of each of the intelligences or talents. Based on these complementary theories, CDL aims to provide an integrated learning experience, which emphasizes the physical, intellectual, emotional and aesthetic well being of each child. Research conducted at the CDL is planned to harmonize with children's ongoing learning and development and is carefully reviewed for safety and appropriateness.
The philosophy of the CDL is developmental. That is, the CDL's curriculum fits children's physical, intellectual, social, and emotional needs. We believe that children are intrinsically motivated. When children are stimulated by their environment, they are motivated to interact, discover, and learn. Therefore, the Child Development Laboratory allows children to select activities that interest them, with responsible adults nearby to assist their learning.
How children feel about themselves is a primary concern at the CDL. A positive self-image, feeling of competence, and self-worth are fostered by arranging activities and surroundings to give children a sense of security and trust. For example, parents are encouraged to visit the center until their child feels secure without them. Child-sized equipment makes activities easy for the children. They are also encouraged to do as much as possible for themselves, from washing paint brushes to pouring milk or juice. During family style meals, children pour drinks and help serve themselves. Adults sit with the children to demonstrate good table manners, talk with the children and help them when necessary.
We believe children should create and make discoveries through the materials and information that are provided for each activity. Therefore, we do not provide models for creative experiences, nor are children forced to learn material that is more suited to grade school. It is the process rather than the product that we believe is important. Preschool children who are pushed to achieve grade school learning often miss out on vital building blocks for their later development, and they may become anxious and fearful about school.
Adults (teachers, parents and students) are important resources for the children in our laboratory. They not only plan and present specific experiences for children, they also help extend activities beyond the immediate product or the experience. For example, dramatic play about fishing can include building a boat out of blocks, making fishing poles, catching toy fish, and then taking toy fish to the housekeeping area to act out cooking and serving a meal. Throughout these activities, adults and children have many conversations about building boats, fishing, water, cleaning fish, cooking fish, and enjoying work together. Parents are strongly encouraged to take part in curriculum planning, evaluation and school policy decisions.
MAIN FEATURES OF THE PROGRAM
• An emergent curriculum builds upon the interests of the children.
• Project work provides an in-depth study of concepts, ideas, and interests.
• Representational development integrates the arts as tools for cognitive, linguistic, and social development.
• Collaborative group work is valuable and necessary to advance cognitive development.
• The teacher-researcher facilitates children's explorations and experiences so as to assist them in their construction on knowledge.
• Documentation of children's work in progress is an important tool in the learning process for children, teachers and parents.
• The environment is the third teacher through the conscious use of space, color, natural light, displays of children's work, and attention to nature and detail.
• Driven by a hands-on, integrated, multi-sensory, multi-disciplinary learning model, the curriculum will emphasize emergent mathematics, science, literacy, technology, and the arts.
STAFF
Our lead teachers have bachelor degrees, typically with an emphasis in early childhood education, psychology, child development, and/or extensive experience in working with young children. A co-teacher and teacher assistants are also present in every classroom. Our adult to child ratio's match those recommended by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
TUITION & FEES
When the child is accepted into the program, there is a non-refundable registration fee of $50.00. The fee schedule has been calculated to include absences due to illness and unanticipated closing due to weather. There are no "MAKE-UP" days or refunds for sick children. The tuition is as follows:
1. Preschoolers (2 1/2-5) = $160 per week or $35 per day
The Child has to be at least 3 years old by the end of this year
Please note there will be no tuition reimbursement for emergency closure, holidays and/or sick days.
ADMISSION
The Merrill-Palmer Institute Child Development Lab (CDL) is a State of Michigan licensed child-care center for children 2 1/2 to 5 years of age. The Center is located on the Wayne State University campus in the Cultural Center of Detroit.
Before a child can begin attending the Children's Center it is mandatory that we have on file the following items:
1. Application Form with $50 non-refundable registration fee.
2. Health Appraisal Form (Must include shot record for four DPT's, three polio vaccines, one MMR and one HIB). Also must be validated on both sides by your child's physician or County Health Department
3. Child Information Record / Emergency Card
4. Personal Information Form
5. First Week Tuition Deposit
6. Class Schedule (if you are a student at WSU)
7. Grant Documentation (if your child qualifies for MSRP)
8. Video Taping / Photography Release Form Licensing Contract
9. Parent Agreement
10. A copy of your child's Birth Certificate.
HOURS OF OPERATION
The Center is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The Center follows the University calendar, closing for all major holidays and 10 days in December during Winter Break. The CDL also closes for one day in the spring so our teachers may attend a statewide conference. Please check the school year calendar for exact dates.
Each family is allowed two weeks of vacation free of charge. The time needs to be taken in one-week blocks. A Vacation Request Form must be completed two weeks prior to the vacation or you will be charged for that time.
The center may also close for inclement weather or other emergencies. We follow the Wayne State University's decision to close. Please call Wayne State University's Hotline at (313) 577-5345, or check the website (www.wayne.edu) or watch Fox 2 / Channel 4 for information about severe weather closing. In the the event of a closure, the University will usually post the information by 6:00 am. In addtition, Merril-Palmer Child Development Lab will post the information on Fox 2 / Channel 4.
If it becomes necessary to close while school is in session, we will make every opportunity to contact you or your emergency numbers. For the safety of our staff, it is imperative that you make arrangements to have your child picked up within one hour. At that time, late fees / policy will go into effect.
NUTRITION
The Child Development Laboratory serves a nutritious breakfast and snack daily. All meals follow the federal government's Recommended Daily Allowance Plan.
RESEARCH POLICY
The Child Development Lab is available to faculty and graduate students for research purposes. In an effort to balance the needs of researchers with the needs of the children in the preschool, the following goals and guidelines have been established.
PROGRAM GOALS for RESEARCH at the CDL
1. The CDL will ensure that research activities are safe and compatible with children's ongoing preschool experiences.
2. The CDL will provide opportunities to WSU faculty and students to observe and study the development of children representing the diversity of children living within the metropolitan area of Detroit.
3. The CDL will provide a setting for WSU faculty and students to conduct unobtrusive observation and collection of information on children's growth and development.
4. The CDL will provide access, with staff and parental consent, for research on child development at WSU that may require work with individual children or small groups of children.
5. The CDL will provide a setting, with parental consent and collaboration, for the study of optimal ways of assisting children's development in a preschool environment
RESEARCH FACILITIES
The Child Development Lab is equipped with observation rooms equipped with one-way mirrors that permit unobtrusive observation of children in every classroom. Sound systems permit collection of audible data from classrooms. A room is also available for individual or small group interviewing and testing.
RESEARCH PROCEDURES
Requests for research at the Child Development Laboratory are reviewed for approval by the CDL Faculty Coordinator and the Director of the CDL, who have final authority to approve projects conducted in the CDL. Prospective researchers must give them a copy of an approved Human Investigation Committee Behavioral Protocol Summary Form, including an approved consent form for parents.
In addition, researchers should write a cover letter requesting permission to conduct the project at the CDL. The letter should briefly describe the proposed study, state a time line and daily schedule for all aspects of the study involving the CDL, and describe the characteristics of children desired for inclusion in the proposed project. Names and descriptions of everyone who will observe or collect information in the CDL must be included. A description for what children (and staff and parents, if applicable) will be asked to do should be stated in the letter, along with any relevant information not included in the Human Investigation forms. Finally, researchers should indicate what facilities at the CDL they will need for their proposed study.
Once a project is approved by the Director and Faculty Coordinator, a copy of the descriptive letter will be given to parents where appropriate, or researchers may be asked to generate a set of the letters addressed specifically to parents. A copy of the consent form must accompany each parental permission letter.
Parental permission is required for taking children out of the classroom, e.g. to the interviewing room or to the playground. Observational studies in which videotapes or films are used also require parental consent. Parental permission is not required for observational studies without videotape or film records.
COMMUNICATION AND INVOLVEMENT
Young children's development is enhanced when adults around them interact frequently in a positive, friendly, constructive manner. CDL will keep regular communication with parents by ways of daily conversations, newsletters, notes home and regular school parents meeting.
As parents, you are strongly encouraged to take part in children's daily developmental activities and contribute to the center's improvement and development.
If you have any questions about research at the Child Development Lab,
please call (313) 873-0724
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