Children's Center Lab School

Enrollment takes place at the end of each term for the upcoming term. Enrollment is done by appointment only. In order to make an appointment, students must be registered in DVC classes for the term for which they wish to enroll their child(ren) in the children's center.

The center follows the same attendance and holiday schedule as the DVC class schedule and enrollment is on a term-by-term basis with priority given to returning students in good standing. The children center is open:

Monday - Thursday: 8 am - 1 pm

The center provides lunches and snacks for children.  The nutrition component of the curriculum is designed to provide a model to students of healthy foods to use with young children and ways to involve children in food preparation.

Parents of all new and second term enrollees must enroll in one of the ECE 100 through ECE 114 series classes for 2 units. (The numbers and subjects of these courses changes each term but will always be between 100 and 114.) This includes the class sessions and three lab hours per week in the center. Parents enrolled in a third term or beyond have the option of enrolling in only 1 unit of an ECE 100 through ECE 114 series course. This includes the class sessions and one hour per week in the center as a parent job.

The staff members who run the programs at the children's center are highly trained, permanent employees of Diablo Valley College.  These individuals are directly responsible for implementing the early childhood education curriculum in each of the center's programs.  Staff teachers work closely with the early childhood education department lab faculty in coordinating curriculum for student teachers and children.  These staff teachers serve as model teachers for the Diablo Valley College students and are responsible for coordinating communication with parents about the general development of children, as well as specific problems that may arise concerning a child's behavior, development or adjustment to the center's program.  Strong relationships between the staff, parents, and children are an integral value of the school.

The belief that children are curious, competent and capable of constructing knowledge is central to all curriculum planning.  Children explore and discover, ask questions and build new understandings as they interact with friends, teachers and parents.  Safe and stimulating environments, developmentally appropriate activities, and rich and varied materials are used to promote optimal development in the following areas:

• Self-awareness, self-regulation,and emotional understanding
• Positive social skills, empathy and caring
• Ability to think, reason, question and experiment
• Speech and language skills for understanding, communicating and self-expression
• Interest in literacy and concepts about print
• Motor skills and optimal physical functioning
• Creative expression including art, music and drama
• Awareness, appreciation and understanding of nature
• Knowledge of sound health, safety and nutritional practices
• Respect for individual differences