The Infant/Toddler Lab School provides opportunities for college students to observe and participate with children in various ways. Students observe and participate in order to develop a frame of reference concerning the growth, development and behavior or young children. These experiences allow students to participate in the planning, implementation and evaluation of activities, observe children's reactions to the routines of the day, study their progress within the program and develop skills in interacting positively with both individual children and groups.

The Infant/Toddler Lab School is dedicated to providing an exemplary early childhood education program for children and families and to serving as a model of the best in early childhood practices.

The Infant/Toddler Lab School is actively involved in the generation of new knowledge and the development of innovative educational practices. We are pleased to serve students in fields that require observation or interaction with children. Often they are just collecting observational data, but at times they may visit or interact with your child.

Each person entering the Infant/Toddler Lab School, as well as his/her learning or research project, is carefully and cautiously screened by College Authorities and the Director. The research component is coordinated so that interference or disruption of the educational program is minimized.

Program Philosophy

The philosophy of the CSUSB Infant and Toddler Laboratory is based on a growing body of research, knowledge and practices that strongly indicate that children learn and develop most effectively through active exploration, involvement and manipulation of their environment. Through this process, children construct knowledge of the world that makes sense in terms they can understand. The child's development of knowledge of the social world and strategies for interacting with peers and adults is also an important part of learning during the early childhood years.

Children learn best in a warm, supportive, nurturing, safe atmosphere in which individual and cultural differences are valued. The curriculum is designed to be appropriate to the developmental capabilities of each child and is implemented with attention to children's differing needs, interests and developmental levels. Classroom activities are planned to support this learning process and address each child's physical, social, emotional, cognitive and creative development. Activities tend to be open ended and are process, not product, oriented. They foster self-learning, problem solving, decision-making and responsibility in children.

While parents are always welcome to share their culture and beliefs with children in an appropriate manner, the Center does not provide any religious instruction or worship.

Parent Involvement

We believe that, as parents, you are the primary educators of your children. It is our function as teachers to support and facilitate the development and education of your children. We need your input and value your suggestions and observations. Because you are the expert when it comes to knowing your child, we appreciate your perceptions, feeling and observations about your child. We encourage you to become actively involved in your child's education.

Faculty and Staff

All staff members interact with the children and share responsibility for their care, learning, and development. Teachers in our program are all students on campus at CSUSB. The majority are pursuing degrees in child development or a related field. Student employees range from seeking master's degrees to working towards their bachelor's degree. All of our teachers qualify for the relevant Child Development permit as dictated by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.