Employment
Interested in working at the Child Development Lab?
Positions will be posted through the university at Jobs at UW.
As a volunteer, you’ll work alongside our teaching team to support children’s learning and care in the CDL. Your responsibilities include:
- Supervising and guiding children in the classroom
- Supporting the management of classroom routines and transitions
- Assisting with planning and preparing daily activities
You’ll receive direct support from lead teachers and report to the associate director.
Please note: Volunteer opportunities are currently only available through the Human Development & Family Studies 663 program.
We are not accepting volunteers outside of this program at this time. Questions? Email CDL administration at cdlplacements@sohe.wisc.edu
Part of our mission is to train college students (both undergraduate and graduate). We help them take what they learn about child development in the classroom and apply it to real-world experience.
We offer three types of student positions:
- CDL student assistant
- CDL intern
- The Playing Field intern (made possible by the Oscar Rennebohm Foundation as part of a paid Human Development & Family Studies internship experience).
New student applicants are hired by considering the following factors:
- Your availability to work at the CDL meets the work schedules offered for the position(s) you are applying.
- Fall/Spring semester shifts:
- 8:00 a.m.-2:15 p.m. M/W/F or T/TH
- 12:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m. M/W/F or T/TH
- Summer shifts: 5 days a week
- 8:00 a.m.-2:15 p.m. M-F
- 12:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m. M-F
- Fall/Spring semester shifts:
- Your ability to continue working at the CDL for more than one semester/session.
- You have prior demonstrated experience working with young children that matches the needs of the CDL classrooms.
- You have already taken the courses required for childcare licensing to work in a childcare program.
- You have already taken the courses required for childcare licensing to work in a childcare program. View required and qualifying courses by age group →
Additional Information:
- Only HDFS majors with 54+ credits are eligible for internships.
- Prerequisite: Successful completion of INTER-HE 202.
- HDFS majors are prioritized over non-HDFS majors for Student Assistant positions if everything else is equivalent.
- We prioritize returning staff to keep care consistent and stable for our children and families.
- Your availability must also align with the needs of the program.
Summer and Fall 2026 Student Assistant and Intern Application now closed.
Internships
Early Childhood Development Intern
About This Role
As an Early Childhood Development Intern, you’ll work directly with children and support our teaching team. Day-to-day, you’ll help supervise and guide children in the classroom, assist with planning and running daily activities, and contribute to a positive learning environment. You’ll receive hands-on support from Lead Teachers and report to the Associate Director.
Who Can Apply
This position is open to Human Development & Family Studies majors, have 54+ credits, and successfully completed INTER-HE 202. Students must be enrolled in INTER-HE 601 during their internship semester.
Returning for a Second Semester?
The CDL welcomes second semester interns! To qualify, your second semester placement must involve a different classroom or meaningfully different responsibilities than your first semester, this is required to meet the School of Human Ecology internship standards. Second semester interns must also enroll in INTER-HE 601.
For more details on internship requirements, visit Human Ecology’s internship page.
Types of Intern Positions
You can intern at the CDL for up to two semesters, as long as you’re enrolled in INTER-HE 601 each semester. If you return for a second semester, you’ll take on different classroom responsibilities and may be placed in a different classroom than your first semester.
Read the descriptions below to learn more about each position.
Early Childhood Education First Semester Intern
Early Childhood Education Second Semester Intern
Student assistant
As a Student Assistant, you’ll work alongside our teaching team to support children’s learning and care in the CDL. Your day-to-day responsibilities include helping supervise and guide children in the classroom and assisting with daily activities and routines. You’ll receive direct support from Lead Teachers and report to the Associate Director.
Questions? Email us at cdlplacements@sohe.wisc.edu
Read the descriptions below to learn more about each position.
Early Childhood Education Float Student Assistant
HDFS internships – Community Program
Oscar Rennebohm Foundation Early Childhood Development Community Intern
As an Oscar Rennebohm Foundation Early Childhood Development Intern in the community program, you’ll help care for and support children in a classroom setting. Your responsibilities include:
- Supervising and guiding children in the classroom
- Supporting the management of classroom routines and transitions
- Assisting with planning and preparing daily activities
Who You’ll Report To
You’ll report to your supervising Lead Teacher in the community program and to Amy Wagner, Executive Director of CDL Teaching & Research. You’ll also receive direct support and supervision from Lead Teachers in your classroom and Program Administrators at The Playing Field.
Who Can Apply
This first semester Oscar Rennebohm Foundation Early Childhood Development Internship/Community Program position is open to students enrolling in INTER-HE 601: Internship.
Returning for a Second Semester?
The Playing Field offers second semester internships! To qualify, your placement or responsibilities must be meaningfully different from your first semester, this is required to meet School of Human Ecology internship standards. Second semester interns must also enroll in INTER-HE 601.
For questions regarding an HDFS Internship at The Playing Field, please contact Cecilia Hook at cahook@wisc.edu.
Oscar Rennebohm Foundation Early Childhood Development Community Intern