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 The Children’s Program provides an opportunity for UA
students and faculty to study and implement best practices for
young children in group settings and to conduct research on the
development of children and families.
The faculty in the Department of Human Development and Family
Studies utilizes the center as a teaching laboratory for
students enrolled in departmental courses. Regular involvement
of college students in the laboratory setting allows students to
learn about development and the education of young children
through observation and interaction. Students who plan careers
working with families or children have opportunities to
translate theoretical knowledge into planning, implementing, and
evaluating programs for children, and participating in distance
learning and teaching. Many courses in the Department of Human
Development and Family Studies, as well as other university
courses, utilize observation booths to view children from
infancy through preschool in developmentally appropriate
environments. Knowledge gained in these naturalistic
observations is essential for understanding child development
and individual differences among children. In addition, teaching
faculty serve as professional models for students by being
involved in professional development, participating in
professional organizations, attending local, regional and
national meetings, and staying abreast of current literature in
the area of Child Development and Early Childhood Education.
For The University of Alabama students, the focus of their involvement in
a child development laboratory is on understanding children’s growth and development in all areas, developing
appropriate experiences and environments that enhance children's
development, and participating in facilitating parental involvement and
professional interactions.
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