The Child Development Laboratories have provided exemplary programming for children for 80 years.  The Laboratory Preschool opened its doors in 1927 in a house where the Student Union now stands. It later moved to the Paloucci Building, which was the Home Management Building.

In 1947, over 700 student families joined campus life as a result of the GI Bill bringing with them over 300 children.  Two quonset huts were erected to house the cooperative nursery school, and in 1948, Spartan Nursery Schools were opened.  In 1950, the school was housed with the Department of Home Management and Child Development in the College of Home Economics.

With the building of the Breslin Center in 1988, the Laboratory Preschool and Spartan Nursery School moved to Central School and became known as the Child Development Laboratories as part of the College of Human Ecology,  Department of Family and Child Ecology.

In 2000, the importance of family involvement was emphasized by affording the opportunity for all families to participate in their child’s school experience.  Families are encouraged to participate in their child’s classroom three times a semester.

The Parent Council continues to be an active, viable component of the Child Development Laboratories.  It organizes fund raisers, operates the lending library, and supports school initiatives.

A second campus opened in 2004 through collaboration with Haslett Public Schools and Headstart.  Haslett built a preschool wing onto their Wilkshire Early Childhood Center.  It is the MSU Child Development Laboratories, Haslett campus. 

The Child Development Laboratories continue to maintain their high level of quality through exemplary programming for children, teacher training, outreach, and research.