The Dillon Child Study Center

Founded in 1934 as one of the first college preschools on the East Coast, this unique laboratory school offers opportunities for Child Study majors to gain invaluable hands–on experience, guided by master teachers, while offering valuable resources to the community.

The Center offers consultation for local public and private schools as well as a Parent–Toddler Program for local families; sessions for three–year–olds; half–day or full–day for four–year–olds; and half–day or full–day kindergarten; and early childhood special education services in an inclusive setting. Master Early Childhood teachers who also teach at the college level teach all classes. Observation rooms are available for parent use and as a teaching tool of the College.

The Center features completely equipped classrooms; observation, testing and computer rooms; a speech laboratory; children’s library and a large outdoor play area.

The Dillon Child Study Center is registered by New York State and serves as a learning and teaching facility for the child study major. Working with professional classroom teachers and mentors, majors gain valuable hands–on experience to prepare for careers in teaching or fields that involve children.

The Center has recently launched its first inclusive pre–Kindergarten class for four–year–olds, bringing together children with special needs and typically developing children in one classroom. This reflects our new Child Study “inclusive” curriculum, which requires majors to study both special education and traditional pedagogy. Population diversity — children of many different cultural and religious backgrounds — has been a strength of the Center for many years.