Determining the Perception and Necessity for a Child Development Laboratory in Local Communities

This pilot study evaluates the importance for the development of a high-quality, research-based child development laboratory at Southern University Baton Rouge. There exist a multitude of traditional and nontraditional child care options across the nation and the state of Louisiana. Many families opt to take care of their children themselves or let a close relative or friend care for their young child. As such, there are many parents who opt to work, but who prefer the opportunity for their child/ren to be in a warm, nurturing environment, rich in early childhood academics, cultural awareness, and strong social and cognitive development opportunities, which will adequately prepare their children for K-12 education. The purpose of this research is to determine if perception and need for an additional child development laboratory in East Baton Rouge (EBR) Parish. With a population over 400,000, there exist one laboratory in the parish, which serves only 175 children of the 29,472 children under age five (5) in the parish. There is a dire need for another research-based learning facility for early childhood in EBR parish.