Child development is the study of children and their growth and development as they move through various stages of life. High school students receive practical, usable skills to assist them in becoming better educated and better prepared caregivers, siblings, parents, and citizens. In addition, they learn the classic theories of developmental psychologists and learning scholars, lesson planning skills and developmentally appropriate practices for use with preschool aged children. These skills are actively practiced as the students plan and implement lessons for the children in the preschool lab setting.
Each class period consists of rotations that change on a weekly basis. Students spend four days a week in groups of about five researching topics related to children, observing the four-year-olds, planning their lessons or teaching on the teaching floor. The fifth day is spent in a seminar class where there are discussions about teaching, educational theory and the teaching lab.