LSU has transformed its child care center at 4001 Gourrier Lane into a Reggio Emilia-inspired early childhood laboratory preschool that will cultivate a child’s curiosity through exploration and discovery.
The university announced today that it will host a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Early Childhood Education Laboratory Preschool—which can support up to 35 faculty members and 175 children ranging from 6 weeks old to 4 years old—at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 20. Gov. John Bel Edwards will speak.
“This ceremony celebrates the laboratory preschool’s realization of its original purpose, which is to conduct research in a model demonstration school involving young children, early childhood educators, university students and faculty researchers,” says Neil Matthews, director of the LSU School of Education.
The Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education originated in northern Italy and promotes the view of children as competent, resourceful and imaginative learners.
The method has been adopted in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.
Cyndi DiCarlo, executive director of the preschool and an early childhood education professor, says classroom materials were selected to help cultivate the natural curiosities of children to promote exploration and creativity.
“A major focus for the children in our care is the development of relationships,” DiCarlo says in a statement.
Matthews says the child care center’s transformation better aligns the center with the mission of the university. The laboratory also will serve as a guide to cutting-edge research in the area of child development and as a training site for undergraduate and graduate students, who can work directly with the children.
