By Townhall Chicago News Staff
Saint Xavier University psychology students gained hands-on experience working with infants, toddlers and families through a field study with the university’s Birth to Three program, the school announced Wednesday.
The collaboration between psychology professor LaTreese Hall and Birth to Three director Lori Winkler paired students interested in child development careers with real-world settings on the southwest-side Chicago campus, according to an SXU news release.
“My research focuses on early child development, and I first heard about Birth to Three in a passing conversation about a building just off campus that might interest me,” Hall said in the release. “I reached out to Lori over the summer. She invited me for tea, in the tradition of the Mercy Mission, and it turned into a beautiful two-hour conversation about child development and education.”
Students rotated through five stations during the experience, spending 10 to 15 minutes at each. They conducted structured observations of children, examined toys and evaluated how each supports cognitive, physical and psychosocial development. They also spoke with parents, pregnant individuals and early childhood professionals, according to the release.
“Many of my students are interested in careers that involve child development, so practicing structured observation is directly relevant skill-building,” Hall said. “They also spoke with current employees and the program’s director about their work and career paths. Some students were inspired enough to ask about internships at Birth to Three.”
A post-experience survey showed a strongly positive response from students. They gave high ratings for the experience and for connecting course concepts to real children and families. Several noted that what they read in their textbook matched what they observed, the release said.
“Families shared that their experience was positive and expressed their willingness to participate again. Moms enjoyed the interaction and reported that the students had really good questions,” Winkler said in the release. “Birth to Three staff agreed that the students’ reflections demonstrate they aren’t just absorbing instruction — they have internalized the program’s value.”
The Birth to Three program has operated for 22 years as a mission-aligned grant program focused on supporting families and building community awareness around early childhood development.
“For 22 years, the Birth to Three Program has focused its mission-aligned grant on increasing awareness and remaining responsive to families and community experiences,” Winkler said. “We have learned that data only tells part of the story. The lived experiences of our families, students and community members are the ultimate measure of our success.”
Hall and Winkler plan to continue the partnership in future semesters, given the positive feedback from both students and families.
The Birth to Three program is housed in a facility near the university’s main campus at 3700 W. 103rd St. in Chicago.
