Child Development Laboratory School at the University of Minnesota

Listen to CDLS Director Sheila Williams Ridge discussing nature-based education on the Health 411 podcast! https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Xii17utwrPTv2s1V6tVcv

Health 411- Nature Based Education with Sheila Williams Ridge Health411 · Episode

We have fall 2026 openings for 3-to-5-year-olds in our PART-DAY PRESCHOOL and DAKOTA LANGUAGE NEST PRESCHOOL! In our part-day preschool program, choose 3- or 5-day schedules. In our Dakota Language Nest, children attend 5 days a week. We accept child care assistance, and scholarships are available. Find out more at lab-school.umn.edu or call 612-626-3273!

Take a look at this free (*donations optional) pop-up training TOMORROW at noon! Our colleague at the UMN - Institute of Child Development, PhD candidate Hopewell Hodges, will discuss supporting children during immigration enforcement operations. This opportunity is through the Minnesota Association for Children's Mental Health--check it out and please share widely!

Pop-up: Supporting Children During Immigration Enforcement Operations - Minnesota Association for Children’s Mental Health Presenter: Hopewell Hodges, MA, PhD Candidate — Predoctoral Psychology Internat the University of Minnesota Date & Time: Virtual over Zoom on Friday, January 16, 2026 from […]

Apply to our part-day preschool program or our Dakota Language Nest program for fall 2026! Find out more at lab-school.umn.edu or call 612-626-3273!

"Playing in dirt helps build children's immune system from the ground up."

Mud, mess, microbes: Why kids need to play in the dirt | C&NN Kids love playing in the mud, and it’s more than just fun — it’s good for their health and development. Learn why — and how to embrace the mess.