BYU Child & Family Studies Laboratory

Nurturing Growth, Fostering Curiosity, Shaping Futures!

The Child and Family Studies Laboratory offers several engaging, meaningful, play-based programs for children ages 4-9 which fosters curiosity and nurtures a love of learning. We are a teacher training facility which allows us to have a student-teacher ratio of 4-5 adults to 20 children. We use our knowledge of child development to meet the individual needs of each child as we focus on their social, emotional, physical, and cognitive growth. We strive to know the cultural context of the children and teachers to build off prior knowledge and construct new ideas.

Our Mission Statement

  • Mentor BYU students majoring in Early Childhood Education (ECE) and Family and Consumer Science Education (FCSE);
  • Provide a model preschool and kindergarten program based on Developmentally Appropriate Practices**;
  • Encourage, facilitate, and conduct research with young children and families.

**Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs (NAEYC, 2021) as outlined by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

Our Programs

Our student teachers work under the direction of a mentor teacher to create developmentally appropriate activities that are based on the children's interests, assessed needs and developmental capacities. We integrate our curriculum to address the whole child as we teach lessons from all content areas in the following formats: whole and small group activities, discovery experiences/centers, and outdoor recess. Topics of study are age-appropriate, relevant to the children’s world, and intentionally planned to build on previously taught skills or concepts - in a way that makes learning fun!

Preschool

The Child and Family Studies Laboratory operates a preschool for children who are 4 by September 1st to help prepare children to enter kindergarten the following year. We utilize the Utah State Early Learning Standards: Ages 3-5 to plan lessons that encourage cooperation, problem solving, self-regulation and learning!

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Kindergarten

The Child and Family Studies Laboratory operates a private kindergarten for children for children who are 5 by September 30th. We utilize the Utah State Kindergarten Core Standards to plan hands-on, engaging lessons that show a real-world application. We promote critical thinking as children learn how to analyze and synthesize data, present their ideas in creative ways, and work together with their friends.

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Summer STEM

The Child and Family Studies Laboratory provides summer enrichment camps for children entering kindergarten through those entering 5th grade. Enrollment is limited to 20 children per session and taught by a hired public-school teacher with the support of several BYU students. With a focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), we offer an engaging, hands-on science and math curriculum based on the Utah Science State Core for grades K-4th to show how these principles can be found in our everyday lives!

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What Parents Say About Us

Warm, Welcoming, and Nurturing

The teachers here truly care about every child. Our daughter comes home every day excited to share what she’s learned. We couldn’t be happier with our decision!

—Jessica M.

More Than Just a School

It’s not just about learning the ABCs — they’re helping our son grow emotionally and socially too. It feels like a second home for our family.

—Mark T.

Engaging and Fun Environment

Our twins absolutely love going to preschool now! The activities are engaging, the classrooms are colorful and safe, and the staff is amazing.

—Priya R.

Explore Our Gallery

See how we transform learning to unlock a child’s potential and build a strong foundation!

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