Screams of excitement can be heard throughout the northern part of Central Campus, along with constant chatter from groups of children running around the play area.

A small group of children stop to ponder what great discoveries they might find among the wood chips. Giggles from children explaining a funny story can be heard over the noise.

This is a typical day at Iowa State’s Child Development Lab, located in the Palmer Building. The lab recently added two new programs, extending its hours of operation. There are now six childcare programs offered.

Participating children are grouped by age, said Carol Phillips, program coordinator for human development and family studies.

The programs expand the Child Development Lab’s hours to 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. yearround, she said.

The new programs were added to “meet the needs of today’s families,” Phillips said.

The Child Development Lab is accredited by the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs and works to provide early childhood care and education, she said.

The lab offers all-day, year-round programs for 2-, 3- and 4-year-olds, Phillips said. Preschoolers can participate in full-year, part-time, full-time or academic year part-time programs.

The lab offers a full day kindergarten program and an after school lab for children in kindergarten through sixth grade, Phillips said. Parents must provide transportation.

According to the Child Development Lab Web site, www.fcs.iastate.edu/ cdlab/default.htm, the program for 2-year-olds is open to 12 children, who are selected on a lottery system based on gender and age.

The preschool programs for 3- and 4-year-olds are all-day, year-round programs, and two part-time programs for the academic year.

The preschool programs focus on language, literacy, sharing, music, science and forming friendships, Phillips said.

The kindergarten program collaborates with the Ames Community School District and selects 22 children to learn in a culturally diverse community, she said.

The Older Children’s Laboratory is available for children of working parents in kindergarten through sixth grade.

It provides daily group activities like arts and crafts, table games and outdoor activities based on the child’s interest, Phillips said.

Teaching is a good way to learn, and on that principle, the Child Development Lab serves as a learning tool for ISU students in early childhood care programs, she said.

Each group of children is supervised by a teacher, two graduate teaching assistants and students in early childhood programs who learn from their experiences and help the children, Phillips said.

All head teachers have a family services background and are responsible for orienting the ISU students to the lab and monitoring their progress, as well as providing feedback, Phillips said.

Emily Moriarity, graduate in human development and family studies, said she has had a variety of experiences while working at the lab.

She said she has learned about program management and planning and working with families.

“[I’ve] gained practical experience through the assistantship,” she said.