For Parents
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How does your baby learn so much, so fast?
Please join us in our effort to learn about the power of early development.
Sign up here!
We will let you know as soon as your baby is just the right age for one of our projects.
Participate in a study with your child
Join us in person
We love meeting families who come visit us! We do our best to be sure that you and your baby have fun and learn something new!
Welcome! Our in person studies take place on the Evanston campus, in a cozy, home-like setting. Come in for a half-hour visit, with free parking and small gifts (t-shirts, books, or toys) for the children! Learn about how your child thinks!
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What’s it like to visit?
Getting Here
Welcome to ICDC! Once you arrive at Swift Hall, one of our research assistants will meet you in the parking lot with a parking pass for your car. The parking spots are labeled Research Parking and are located in the southeast corner of the lot.
Come on in!
Our research center is located in the basement of Swift Hall — come on in!
Once inside, the research assistants will play with your child (or children — siblings are welcome!) in our cozy little waiting room while we tell you a bit about our center as well as the specific study your child is participating in. Afterward, you will be asked to fill out a few brief forms.
The Study
Your infant will sit in your lap and watch a short video. We use your child’s eye movements as an indicator of what they are learning, what they are interested in, and what they expect to happen next. Believe it or not, these simple measures can tell us a lot about how they think!
After your Appointment
After the study is over, we’ll send you off with a t-shirt and a board book, or $10 cash for your child as an expression of our gratitude. We are so thankful for your time — we couldn’t conduct our research without you.
We've participated a few times. It's surprisingly fun for both me and my little son.
I actually came to this very same lab when I was a baby! It's really special (and a little surreal!) to come full circle with my own baby.
Join us online, from your home
How wonderful that you can also join us in online studies! These are super short and engaging for you and your baby.
My son had so much fun. Jen is so welcoming. It’s an easy way to contribute to vital research, and we love being a part of it!
Host an expert talk
We are delighted to speak with groups of parents, expectant parents, teachers and community organizations. If you are in the Evanston or Chicago area, please let us know if you’d like to host a gathering with one of our experts.
