The goal of the laboratory school is to establish a beneficial synergy between educational theory research and practice while facilitating growth for the Whole Child sharing teaching strategies and providing professional development for pre-service teachers while creating a curriculum rooted in psychological theory. The basic learning goals of the Children's School are:
- encouraging each child's **Self-Esteem & Independence**
- promoting children's social **Interaction & Cooperation**
- facilitating comprehension and **Communication**
- **Discovery & Exploration**—fostering a positive attitude
- giving children opportunities to use their **Physical Capabilities**
- **Creativity**—cultivating each child's ability to express ideas
Carver and colleagues developed these goal statements by interviewing preschoolers from around the country integrating teachers' experiences and applying knowledge of developmental research to add depth and breadth in cognitive areas while ensuring they were following natural developmental sequences. Other schools would be served well by doing the same.