Child Development Lab

Child Development Lab

HCE Child Development Lab

The Child Development Lab (CDL) is a vibrant experiential learning space where students, faculty and children explore play, space, design, time and materials in order to understand and facilitate learning on many levels. It is a welcoming space for conversation, observation, practice, reflection, growth and development. Students in the Bachelor of Child Studies program, primarily use the CDL at various times over their 4-year degree to gain valuable experiential learning experiences.

The 30' by 30' lab is furnished with a variety of traditional early learning play materials, expressive and creative art supplies and facilitates flexible seating for 25 adults or children. This space is equipped with four zooms and 'eye in the sky' cameras and 16 microphones that allow the capture of video and sound within all areas of the room.

A wall-length observation room located adjacent to the lab, seats 25 comfortably and offers three viewing monitors, sound access to the lab, a fully equipped teaching cabinet and an attached editing suite that is video capable. This space can be used to observe and record lab activity or as a full independent teaching and learning space. To learn more about the technology, watch this video.

HCE Child Development Lab
HCE Child Development Lab
CDL6.jpeg


For further information about the lab or to discuss rental needs, please contact:

Heather Pollard

Lab Coordinator
Phone: 403.440.6776
Email: hpollard@mtroyal.ca

Resource Hub

The Association of Early Childhood Educators of Alberta (AECEA) is non-profit, member-based society with a mission to strengthen and advance a unified early learning and child care profession in Alberta.

The Child and Youth Care Association of Alberta works to improve professional standards for Child and Youth Care Counselors by providing support, education and opportunities to enhance skills and abilities; ensuring that children, youth and families receive the highest quality of care.

Alberta College of Social Workers is a group of social workers connected through commitment to professionalism, advocacy and social justice. Together we represent, strengthen and promote the social work profession and fulfill the regulatory requirements of the Health Professions Act.
Research shows there's a right way and a right time to develop the fundamental movement and sport skills that benefit kids for their entire lives. Learning these basic movement and sports skills is known as becoming physically literate" (Active for Life, 2014). The following articles have been written by Dr. Dawne Clark sharing information relating early brain development to the development of physical literacy in children:

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Government of Alberta's website
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The International Child and Youth Care Network (CYC-Net) is a registered non-profit and public benefit organization. Its main objectives are (primarily through the internet and electronic media) — "to promote and facilitate reading, learning, information sharing, discussion, networking, support and accountable practise amongst all who work with children, youth and families.

Play, Participation, and Possibilities is the Early Learning and Child Care Curriculum for Alberta and is the result of an intense and exciting two-year collaboration among early learning and child care educators, early childhood academics, government, and professionals working in related fields.

On diversity:
Alberta Family Wellness Initiative's aim is to apply emerging research about the experienced-based brain and biological development as it relates to early childhood development and children's mental health, and its lifelong impact on addiction and other negative health outcomes.

Harvard University's Center on the Developing Child
was founded in 2006, the Center catalyzes local, national, and international innovation in policy and practice focused on children and families. They design, test, and implement these ideas in collaboration with a broad network of research, practice, policy, community, and philanthropic leaders.

Start Smart, Stay Safe is an initiative to help strengthen children, families and communities, and in the long-term, decrease victimization and youth involvement in criminal activities.