The Mission

The mission of the Bing Institute, at Bing Nursery School, is to foster a community dedicated to improving the lives of young children and their families.

This endeavor has three components: work with early childhood educators, provide programs for parent education and further professional development for teachers at Bing Nursery School. Examining the philosophy, program and practices that shape our educational model translates into opportunities for inspiration, shared experiences and stronger commitments to serving young children.

Bing Nursery School is a leader in early childhood education, enabling significant research in the field since 1966. Leland and Jane Stanford founded the University to "promote the public welfare by exercising an influence on behalf of humanity and civilization." In this founding spirit of social responsibility we are dedicated to extending our influence in early childhood education through the Bing Institute.

Registration as a Bing Institute, Bing Nursery School participant and attendance at or participation in events on campus or other Bing Institute, Bing Nursery School or Stanford University activities constitutes an agreement by the participant to the University’s use, licensing, and distribution (both now and in the future) of the participant’s image or voice in photographs, videotapes, electronic reproductions, or audiotapes of such events and activities.

Such images or voice recordings may appear in a variety of media, including, but not limited to, websites, Facebook, and other promotional materials.

FAQ's for summer session

Professionals involved in early childhood education, including but not limited to; teachers, directors, professors, instructors, childcare providers and education consultants. We are a community with shared interests in improving education for young children.

Through presentations, dialogue, observation, hands-on experiences and projects, we will investigate a range of topics. The 2012 summer session topic is Basic Materials: A Foundation for Curriculum Design.

For more information and program descriptions, look at the calendar on this website under the For Educators section and click the Read More link under each title.

During the summer of 2012, the program runs July 16 through July 20. Each day we meet for a Continental Breakfast from 8:00am until 8:30am. Monday through Thursday, the session will end at 4:00 pm, and on Friday we will end at 1:30 pm.

The program will take place primarily at the historic Tower House built in 1876 and rededicated in 2009. This building is adjacent to the Bing Nursery School enabling participants to observe children in a setting created especially for young children on the Stanford University Campus.

The week’s program costs $800 and includes materials, a Continental breakfast each morning and a lunch each day. There is a discount of $50 per educator after the first full price participant from one institution. Our understanding is that it is worthwhile to send groups to this program to continue the learning once they return to the workplace.

For participants wishing to earn units they are available through Stanford Continuing Education at $75 for 3 units per summer session week. Confirmation of professional development hours is also available.

Register online at http://bingschool.stanford.edu/institute/sum2012.html.