The Lab School
Welcome to the University of Delaware Lab School! The Lab School serves the University of Delaware as a model of inclusive early childhood education addressing the needs and strengths of varied populations. We welcome children aged 6 months – 6 years and their families into our developmentally supportive part-time and full-time programs that range from infants to kindergarten. The Lab School is an innovation lab supporting the growth and development of University students while serving children, families, and the community. Since 1934, the Lab School has supported UD’s academic programs preparing the next generation of professionals while providing a diverse, supportive, and accessible site for research conducted by faculty, undergraduate and graduate students, and the Lab School staff.
The Lab School is part of the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences (HDFS) within the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Delaware. The Master Teachers enact the practices taught to the undergraduate majors with a focus on child-centered curriculum, developmentally appropriate practices, Nature-based education, social-emotional, and mindfulness curriculum. The Lab School is a living, breathing laboratory for the undergraduates who are making connections between what they learn in their courses and real-life teaching.
Allowing children to explore nature in all types of weather builds resilience, keeps them active, builds understanding of seasons through connections, and fills us with Vitamin D.
When snow is forecasted but we get rain instead, our study of ice expands into real life experience with precipitation change! Since everything has been frozen, we have not been able to make our “hot chocolate” in the mud kitchen. The children were so clever as they scooped muddy “hot chocolate” and then finished it off with monkey ball marshmallows. They continued to build bridges with planks but this time over real rain water vs. pretend lava. The dig pit flooded and they set up their own ramp to move the water.
I’ll bet there are lots of washers running tonight!!
We miss this!
Latest News
Join us for the 2022 In Bloom Conference
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Natural Start Alliance Member Spotlight
“The Lab School has made such a positive impact on my children. After moving to Delaware and making such a big transition, I was fortunate to find a preschool that would not only work with my children on academic and literacy skills, but also emotional and personal growth. The Lab School teachers, students, and staff provide a nurturing environment through a wide variety of activities and approaches to learning.”
