The research we do is all about children and their developing abilities. While each contributing lab focuses on children of different ages and different aspects of their learning and thinking, we are all committed to research that can make a positive difference in the lives of children, and help us  better understand them.

The Read Lab, directed by Kirsten Read, PhD focuses on early language development in children ages 2 – 5 through real-world experiences of play and shared story book reading. We are interested in finding ways to maximize the benefits of shared reading with young children, and understanding what types of books and strategies for reading can be most engaging for many types of learners.

The Bhagwat Lab, directed by Jui Bhagwat, PhD is investigating how being bilingual can affect children’s developing views of the world.

The Whitfield Lab, directed by Lisa Whitfield, PhD studies how children’s learning might be influenced by different aspects of the school environment, such as access to views of nature, taking breaks between lessons, etc.