Welcome to the Child Development Laboratory (Nursery School)

Do you remember when you were three or four years old? You probably have some vague memories along with a few vivid recollections. Regardless, the preschool age is a time to cherish the simplicity of life and at the same time encounter the most rapid period of learning. Did you attend a preschool program? Chances are you did not have the opportunity to go to a preschool—especially a university operated center. University Lab schools are special and quite often have a reputation for their excellence. The West Virginia University Child Development Laboratory (Nursery School) is no exception.

But what makes this laboratory school so special? Even though it enrolls just 40 preschool children (with a waitlist of many) it has a tremendous service record to families, the university, and the community. As for families, the Lab School staff provides parents with resources and information on child development issues. In the area of service to the university, the Lab School filters through its doors over 900 university students each year. These students do observations, research, practicums, or field placements. Because the school has eight different rooms, this little school can facilitate the enormous population of students interested in child development. For the community, the Lab School program has been viewed as a model school and has been involved in the training of teachers from other preschools, child care centers, and kindergartens across West Virginia and surrounding states.