Child Study Center Mission Statement

The Child Study Center (CSC), sponsored under the auspices of the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, provides high quality observation, participatory and educational experiences for the university students by implementing best practices in a part-time childcare program. The Child Study Center is dedicated to providing a safe and enjoyable learning experience through developmentally appropriate activities for children. The CSC targets all aspects of a child's growth: social competence, positive self-esteem, physical development, and learning through a variety of engaging experiences. The environment is child-friendly, offering many opportunities for the child to explore and learn through discovery.

The Department of Family and Consumer Sciences' Child Study Center childcare provides infant/toddler and preschool laboratory experiences for students enrolled in Ball State University's child development courses, along with practical experiences. The CSC also believes in continuing education for staff, families, and the community through monthly newsletters, pamphlets, CPR/First Aid training, one-on-one conferences, resource referrals to agencies and community workshops, and weekly staff training and curriculum meetings.

Ball State University's Child Study Center is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). In June 2007, Ball State's center was among the first 87 programs in the nation to become accredited under new stricter NAEYC guidelines that took effect Sept. 16, 2006. The new guidelines set stronger professional standards for early childhood programs.