EIU Child & Family Life Education Center

Program

The Child & Family Life Education Center (CFLEC) is the practicum site for HSL courses; observation resource for other courses across campus; and exemplary enrichment programs for preschoolers and their families. Also central to the mission of the expanded CFLEC, is community programming for adolescents, families, and for individuals and groups in the community with special imperatives for trainings.

Observation Booth Guidelines

Professors across campus who teach courses related to education, psychology, counseling or human development are welcome to utilize the booth for assignments to observe children at any time when our programs are in session.  

The one-way glass-enclosed observation booth is located between the classrooms and is accessible from both rooms. This sound-equipped area provides audio-visual access to room 1102 (preschool room). The booth accommodates 8-10 observers at one time. Four headsets are dedicated to listening in the preschool room. 

Contact the Child & Family Life Education Center Coordinator to discuss and arrange student access to online observation sign-up: Mrs. Julie Harper, jrharper4@eiu.edu 

Research

The CFLEC is a research site of young children that is available to faculty and students across campus. The process for exploring collaboration with the CFLEC begins with contacting Mrs. Julie Harper for a meeting to explore research needs and the CFLEC capacity. We welcome the interests of researchers from EIU and will consider collaborations with other universities. The requisite IRB approvals are part of the process. 

There have been a number of successful projects in the past, and include preschool language use and food portion preferences among preschoolers.