CDL 100
Celebrating 100 years of the Child Development Lab
The Child Development Lab (CDL) is celebrating 100 years of research, teaching and learning to support thriving children and families. Join us in celebrating at these special events.
Events
Sept 30, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027
The Science of Human Thriving: Celebrating 100 Years of the Child Development Lab
Nancy M. Bruce Center for Design and Material Culture
Research and design shape the spaces where children play, learn, and explore. Visitors are invited into the world of the Child Development Lab throughout its first 100 years, with a focus on the research that takes place at every level in support of the social, emotional, and educational development of UW–Madison’s youngest students. Interactive displays highlight research on media engagement and early relational health, mindfulness, the power of play and nature, and inquiry-based learning.
May 13-14, 2027
Early Relational Health Symposium
Discover the power of relationships in early childhood development at the Early Relational Health Symposium, hosted on the vibrant UW–Madison campus. This two-day event brings together leading scholars, practitioners, and changemakers to explore how science-backed relational strategies can transform outcomes for children — from child care centers and preschools to clinics, homes, and beyond.
Proudly presented by the Human Development & Family Studies department and the School of Human Ecology in celebration of 100 years of the Child Development Lab.
Save the date: May 13-14, 2027
Research
The Child Development Lab provides students and faculty with opportunities for discovery in areas like relationships, well-being, and innovation in early care environments. By helping generate knowledge and training emerging researchers, we’re advancing developmental science while improving the everyday lives of children and families.
Teaching & Learning
Students from across campus benefit from the unique learning experiences offered at the Child Development Lab, including the opportunity to observe children in a natural setting (high quality child care center), hands-on class assignments and guest lectures, mentoring, internships, and more.
History & Legacy
The Child Development Lab was established on the UW-Madison campus in 1926 as the first laboratory preschool of its kind in Wisconsin and one of the first in the U.S. Founded by Home Economics scholars who recognized that healthy relationships are central to children’s healthy futures, it began as a cooperative nursery program where students and researchers could observe child development firsthand.
Over the past century, the CDL has evolved into a nationally recognized early childhood program integrating research, teaching, and practice, serving children from infancy through preschool while advancing knowledge of how they learn and grow. Through decades of expansion, its original purpose remains unchanged, linking science and practice to improve the lives of children and families, a legacy that continues to shape the field of early relational health today.
Early relationships are key to thriving kids — and lifelong health
Relationships are the biological foundation of child development, and healthy and stable bonds create the best conditions for learning and growth from birth to age five. Read about how simple actions like playing, singing and reading together lead to moments of connection, promoting a young child’s flourishing and buffering against difficult experiences.
Where your child can thrive
Join a welcoming community where children feel safe, supported, and inspired to grow — guided by UW–Madison expertise.