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Child Development Laboratory Marks 90 Years at Oklahoma State University

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

In late 1924, Oklahoma A&M College became the nation’s second land-grant institution to establish a nursery school. Today the program is considered one of the best.

Child Development Laboratory at Oklahoma State University

For 90 years the Child Development Laboratory in the College of Human Sciences has nurtured children and their families, trained future teachers, facilitated research and provided quality child development programming to the community.  

Having grown from two classrooms for two- and three-year-olds in 1924, today the Cleo L. Craig Child Development Laboratory- RISE program accepts 71 children from 12 months to 6 years of age 

The CDL provides hands-on experience for Department of Human Development and Family Science undergraduate and graduate students and facilitates research by other Human Sciences and OSU departments of nutritional sciences, design, housing and merchandising, hotel and restaurant administration, psychology, communication sciences and disorders, applied health and educational psychology, and nursing at Northern Oklahoma College. Topics include child growth and development, curriculum development, assessment and screening, effective instructional practices and literacy development. Researchers can unobtrusively observe through one-way mirrors and headphones.

The CDL is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children and is licensed by the Division of Child Care of Oklahoma Department of Human Services as a Three-Star facility.  

“We renewed accreditation with the National Association for the Education of Young Children in 2013,” Jennifer Hays-Grudo, head of the college’s Department of Human Development and Family Science said. “An NAEYC-accredited school adheres to the highest modern standards. The CDL scored 100 percent on almost all criteria, and in the mid-90s on the rest. That means it is rated among the top schools based on objective criteria established by a board of experts.”

Toddlers and preschoolers with developmental disabilities account for 20-30 percent of enrollees. Integrating children with delays along with their typically developing peers has led to achievements surpassing expectations.

“Including children with disabilities destigmatizes differences and reduces fear of the unknown,” Hays-Grudo says. “It also creates more compassionate empathy, which is a hallmark of living in a society. Research shows that people who help others live happier lives. It’s beneficial to start life surrounded by people from other cultures and coping with different problems than your own.”

Dianna Ross, director of the CDL, said research indicates enrollees and their parents both show less fear of and more acceptance toward all kinds of differences after participating in the program. 

“I work extensively with the parents, and the CDL helps them understand different perspectives. They are inspired to consider long-term goals for their children and how to build a foundation for success. We find it helps them with their goals in life and changes their perspective about life in general.”

“We want to do everything we can to help children prepare for school, graduate from school, go on to college and become successful human beings,” Hays-Grudo says.

The CDL’s 90th anniversary year includes a celebration reception Oct. 24 during Homecoming and the inaugural Ramona Ware Emmons Paul Lecture during the college’s annual Human Sciences Week, March 23-27, 2015. 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ostatenews/sets/72157648906684895

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