About Us

The West Virginia University Child Development Laboratory (Nursery School), a unit within the College of Applied Human Sciences, is designed to provide observational and practicum experiences for University students majoring in child development and family studies, teacher preparation, and other related fields.

For more information, contact Ashley Martucci, WVU Nursery School Director.

A Brief History of the Nursery School

The Child Development Laboratory was established in 1944 under the auspices of the Division of Home Economics in the College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Home Economics. The purpose of the school was to provide observation and practicum experiences for future parents and preschool teachers, and for food and nutrition students.

The founder and director was Karina Thure Wood. The school was located in the Home Economics Home Management House on Willey Street and served children from two and a half years of age who attended from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

There was a playroom, dining area, nap room, and a large play yard. Students constructed much of the equipment as class projects. During this period (World War II), one of the course objectives for students was to understand the impact of war on the lives of children.

In 1950, the Lab moved to a roomy house on Price Street. The purpose remained the same, but the ages of children changed to 3, 4, and 5-year-olds. 

In 1963, the Lab moved again to a house on Campus Drive. The program changed to accommodate two part-day sessions serving two age groups (3 and-4-year-olds). In 1978, the Lab moved to Rawley Lane, and since 1980, Dr. Bobbie Warash has been the Director. The new state-of-the-art building in Krepps Park (pictured below) was opened in 2009.