Child Development Internships: A Stepping Stone to Your Career

If you’re studying psychology, education, or anything related to how children think and grow, an internship in child development can be a solid stepping stone during college. These internships allow you to observe how children learn, communicate, and respond to the world around them in hospitals, research labs, and schools. You’ll build practical skills, gain a professional network, and start seeing how theory translates into real developmental milestones and behavioral patterns.

For many students, this kind of experience is a turning point where interests turn into career goals. The programs highlighted here are distinguished by their reputation, the depth and intensity of professional experience they offer, and the chance to connect with top experts in pediatrics, research, and education. Whether you’re analyzing developmental data, shadowing specialists, or helping design early learning interventions, these internships give you a taste of what a future in child development really looks like.

Top Child Development Internships for Undergraduates

To help you get started, here's a curated list of child development internships for undergraduates that blend meaningful work with serious professional growth.

1. Yale Child Study Center Summer Internship

Focus: Pediatrics and developmental science research
Duration: Eight weeks
Eligibility: Undergraduate students
Description: The Yale Child Study Center’s eight-week summer internship connects undergraduates with active research across pediatrics and developmental science. As an intern, you participate in projects spanning neuroscience, behavioral health, and community-based child development research. This prestigious child development internship for undergraduates integrates multiple research methods, from lab-based data analysis to clinical observations, under the mentorship of Yale faculty. Weekly lectures, journal clubs, and career discussions broaden your understanding of pediatric medicine beyond your assigned project. Each student completes a final poster presentation summarizing their work to peers and faculty. Past research topics have explored areas like adolescent risk behavior, parenting neuroscience, and family intervention design.

2. CRISSP at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)

Focus: Pediatric biomedical and behavioral research
Duration: Ten weeks
Eligibility: Undergraduate students who are citizens or legal permanent residents
Description: CRISSP at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia is a ten-week paid internship designed to immerse undergraduates in pediatric biomedical and behavioral research. Interns are matched with CHOP faculty mentors working in basic, clinical, or translational science, gaining direct experience with experimental design and data analysis. The program covers professional development sessions on topics like scientific communication, research ethics, and graduate or medical school preparation. In addition to laboratory work, you can participate in clinical shadowing opportunities and interdisciplinary seminars. The summer concludes with a formal poster symposium where you present your independent project.

3. Children's Hospital Colorado - Summer Child Health Research Internship

Location: Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO
Cost/Stipend: No cost | $4,400 stipend
Dates: June 2 - August 1
Application deadline: Typically first week of February
Eligibility: Undergraduate students ages 18+
Description: Hosted jointly by the University of Colorado School of Medicine and the Colorado Child Health Research Institute, this internship exposes undergraduates to pediatric and child health research. Over the summer, interns work under faculty mentors on projects that may include laboratory research, data analysis, or clinical observation at Children’s Hospital Colorado. Regular seminars led by faculty provide insight into emerging research in pediatrics and encourage cross-disciplinary dialogue. You are expected to produce written and oral summaries of your work, culminating in a final presentation at a research symposium. This selective child development internship for undergraduates also encourages students to submit abstracts to professional conferences, with travel funding available for accepted presentations.

4. UR Medicine - Strong Children’s Research Center (SCRC) Summer Training Program

Location: Strong Children’s Research Center, Rochester, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost | $3,000 stipend paid in four installments
Dates: May 27 - July 31
Application deadline: Rolling (starts November 15)
Eligibility: Students completing their sophomore or junior undergraduate year, or who are enrolled in their first year of medical school in good standing at the time of the application (students taking a gap year or recent graduates are also eligible)
Description: The Strong Children’s Research Center Summer Training Program at the University of Rochester immerses students in pediatric research for ten weeks. Participants work on mentored projects in areas such as developmental biology, translational medicine, and clinical pediatrics, contributing to ongoing departmental research efforts. The program supplements research with weekly lectures, journal clubs, and discussions on current pediatric science and career development. Interns also gain experience in academic communication through abstract writing and poster presentations. By the end of this child development internship for undergraduates, you will present your findings to faculty and peers at a research symposium. Some students even earn authorship on manuscripts resulting from their summer work.

5. Weill Cornell Department of Pediatrics - Summer Internship

Location: Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY
Cost: No cost | Stipend provided
Dates: 6-week or 10-week program from June 2 - August 8
Application deadline: January 5
Eligibility: High school, college, and graduate students
Description: The Weill Cornell Department of Pediatrics hosts a summer internship that introduces students to pediatric medicine and healthcare systems through mentorship, research, and hands-on participation. Interns are placed within divisions that align with their interests, such as behavioral health, health policy, neonatal medicine, or clinical research. You may assist in data collection, shadow clinicians, or engage in projects that examine child health outcomes. Each placement includes structured supervision and culminates in a capstone presentation of your findings.

6. eXtraOrdinarY Kids Research Internship Program

Location: University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO
Cost/Stipend: No cost | $3,800 stipend
Dates: June 2 - July 31
Application Deadline: March 13
Eligibility: Current undergraduate students
Description: The eXtraOrdinarY Kids Research Internship centers on pediatric genetics and developmental outcomes in children with sex chromosome aneuploidies. You’ll collaborate with a multidisciplinary team that includes pediatric endocrinologists, psychologists, genetic counselors, and therapists. Interns will participate in both clinic-based research and data-driven studies focusing on neurodevelopment and early cardiometabolic health. Each student is assigned a mentored project aligned with their academic background and career goals. Educational seminars supplement your practical experience, deepening your understanding of translational research in child health. The child development internship for undergraduates concludes with the eXtraOrdinarY Kids Research eXpo, where participants formally present their projects.

7. Indiana University’s Pediatric Research Summer Internship

Eligibility: citizen or a permanent resident
Description: Indiana University’s Pediatric Research Summer Internship gives undergraduates an eight-week opportunity to work within one of the country’s largest medical schools. As an intern, you’ll design and execute a research project under the guidance of a faculty mentor in areas such as pediatric oncology, immunology, or developmental biology. You are expected to spend 40 hours per week in lab-based research while attending seminars and networking events organized by the Wells Center. The internship lets you develop technical research skills alongside professional communication and presentation abilities. Toward the end of the summer, you submit abstracts and deliver oral presentations summarizing your work.

8. University of Pittsburgh, Department of Pediatrics - Summer Research Internship Program

Location: UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost/Stipend: No cost | stipend $15/hr
Dates: June 1 - July 24
Application deadline: January 11
Eligibility: Applicants who are actively enrolled in a degree-granting program with an institution of higher learning
Description: The University of Pittsburgh’s Department of Pediatrics hosts an eight-week paid internship through the Rangos Research Center for undergraduates pursuing pediatric or biomedical research. You work full-time alongside experienced investigators in areas ranging from child development and endocrinology to genetics and neuroscience. The program focuses on developing practical research skills such as experimental design, data interpretation, and scientific communication. Participants attend seminars and lab meetings that introduce the fundamentals of translational medicine and pediatric research. The summer culminates in a formal poster presentation during “Poster Day,” where you share your research findings with peers and faculty.

9. Brigham and Women’s Hospital Department of Pediatrics - Summer Student Research Program

Location: Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: Not mentioned
Dates: June 9 - August 1
Application deadline: February 7
Eligibility: Undergraduate or medical student (as of Fall) with proven interest in research, academic medicine, or related fields; adherence to MGB vaccination policy
Description: The Summer Student Research Program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital offers undergraduates eight weeks of in-person research experience in perinatal and neonatal medicine. Student interns are paired with faculty mentors in fields such as nutrition, neurodevelopment, and neonatal physiology, working on active research projects like antioxidant therapies for infants and brain injury prevention. Mentorship is individualized to align with each student’s research background and interests. You gain practical research training under experienced pediatric specialists, learning to conduct data collection, analysis, and presentation. The program runs full-time on weekdays, with an emphasis on professional development through lab meetings, data discussions, and final research presentations.

10. SURF Program at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center

Eligibility: citizens, permanent residents, or green card holders
Description: The SURF Program at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center provides undergraduates with a ten-week, full-time opportunity to explore biomedical research at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. Students collaborate with mentors from over 700 faculty-led laboratories, delving into topics like developmental biology, genetics, cardiology, and neurology. This child development internship for undergraduates integrates lab work with academic enrichment activities, including ethics seminars, scientific writing classes, and career development workshops. You’ll also attend research seminars and networking events with peers from other summer programs. By the program’s conclusion, fellows present their findings during a poster session alongside a keynote lecture.

11. Summer Scholars Program at Seattle Children’s Research Institute

Eligibility: Must be currently enrolled, or will be enrolled, in an undergraduate, community, or technical college | In good standing with their academic institution
Description: The Summer Scholars Program at Seattle Children’s Research Institute allows undergraduates to take part in nine weeks of mentored research across disciplines like neuroscience, behavioral health, public health, and microbiology. As a scholar, you will be matched with mentors whose research aligns with your interests and become an active member of a research team conducting basic, clinical, or community-based studies. Alongside research training, students participate in professional development sessions on responsible research conduct, ethics, and scientific communication. The program culminates in a research symposium where you present your findings and publish abstracts summarizing your projects.

12. Children’s Mercy - Research Summer Scholars Program

Location: Children’s Mercy Adele Hall campus or specific labs in Kansas City, MO
Cost/Stipend: No cost | Competitive, hourly salary provided
Dates: June 2 - August 7 or August 22
Application deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Undergraduates with a 3.0 GPA or higher
Description: Children’s Mercy’s Research Summer Scholars Program gives undergraduates a chance to participate in hands-on, hypothesis-driven research under the mentorship of leading clinicians and scientists. Over the summer, scholars work in fields ranging from cardiology and cancer research to behavioral medicine and clinical pharmacology. Each student receives individualized training to master essential research techniques and engage deeply with their assigned projects. Beyond daily lab work, participants attend seminars on biostatistics, research ethics, and scientific writing, while networking with other researchers through institutional events. At the end of the program, scholars present their findings to faculty and peers, gaining valuable experience in research communication.

13. Boston Children’s Hospital - Newborn Medicine Summer Student Research Program

Location: Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: No cost | Hourly stipend provided
Dates: 8 weeks between June 1 - August 31; 35-hour commitment per week
Application deadline: Applications open in January
Eligibility: Applicants who are entering their sophomore, junior, or senior year of college | Must be currently enrolled in a university undergraduate program and have a GPA of 3.5 or higher, supported by an unofficial transcript
Description: Boston Children’s Hospital’s Newborn Medicine Summer Student Research Program connects undergraduates with faculty mentors from the Harvard Program in Neonatology for eight weeks of intensive clinical and laboratory research. You’ll investigate topics such as fetal growth, vascular biology, and rare neonatal diseases while also observing patient care in NICUs, labor and delivery units, and specialty clinics. Alongside their research, you’ll also attend weekly conferences on newborn medicine, clinical case discussions, and sessions on epidemiology and health policy. Each student presents both a clinical case and a research summary at the program’s conclusion.

14. WashU Medicine Pediatric Student Research Program (PSRP)

Location: Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
Cost/Stipend: No cost | Not specified
Dates: June 8 - July 31
Application deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Full-time undergraduates who are at least 18 years old
Description: The Pediatric Student Research Program (PSRP) at Washington University School of Medicine is an eight-week, full-time experience that combines pediatric research, clinical shadowing, and academic seminars. You’ll work 40 hours per week alongside leading faculty members, gaining hands-on research experience and exposure to collaborative scientific research.

15. Additional Internship Opportunities

Beyond the research-focused internships, numerous organizations offer internships centered on direct engagement with children and families. These roles often involve:

Assessing children in need of foster care placement: Observing and directly engaging with youth, parents, caregivers, and other stakeholders.
Supporting case management staff: Supervising family time, completing home visits, and attending court appointments.
Community event planning: Assisting in planning, implementing, and evaluating community events and initiatives.
Creating communication materials: Designing and updating marketing materials to reflect an organization’s brand.
Developing training programs: Assisting in planning, implementing, and evaluating child welfare training for adult learners.
Coordinating independent living tasks: Facilitating one-on-one meetings with youth ages 13-17 to review and complete age-appropriate tasks.

These internships require skills such as strong written and verbal communication, proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, cultural competence, and a passion for working with children and families.

Read also: Child Care vs. College Tuition

Other Internship Examples:

Several organizations offer specialized internships:

Make-A-Wish: This entry-level position is responsible for executing the mission of Make-A-Wish by fulfilling children’s wish experiences, serving primarily as the point of contact for wish families in the onboarding stages of the wish journey. Track progress and enter updates for the assigned caseload within the database management software systems (i.e. Responsible for developing, strategizing, and overseeing the chapter’s medical outreach and eligibility efforts to ensure all qualified children are referred.
Fundraising Intern: The Development - Fundraising Intern will assist in all areas related to fundraising and will support major fundraising programs. General responsibilities include strategic planning to grow programs such as Kids For Wish Kids, Wishes in Flight, Corporate partners, and Workplace giving; research and solicit local companies, schools, clubs and civic organization etc.; cultivate new donors; set up speaking engagements for new donors; form and manage a youth advisory board to grow our Kids for Wish Kids program; and help update and maintain files for donors and events.
National Alliances Intern: The Development/National Alliances Intern will provide assistance and support to annual fundraising campaigns that include, but are not limited to, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding individual and corporate donors to help build relationships with our local and national alliances. Intern will play a role in the coordination and implementation of fundraising initiatives including promotions with national corporate partners, and learn how for-profit corporations partner with nonprofits to further their initiatives. Additionally, there will be some event planning assistance, including an opportunity to participate in and organize logistics for wish celebrations and donor cultivation events. This role will directly participate in the coordination of key national partnership campaigns including Subaru’s Share The Love & Macy’s Thanks For Sharing campaigns.
Stewardship Intern: The Development/Stewardship Intern will provide assistance and support to the Development department with annual fundraising efforts that include, but are not limited to, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding individual, corporate and foundation donors.
Brand Advancement Team Intern: This intern will support the Brand Advancement Team in a variety of areas including story writing/researching, social media, and public relations.
Special Events Intern: The Special Events Intern supports Make-A-Wish's major special events. The primary responsibilities include assisting with marketing of events, facilitating the donation of high-end auction items and designing and implementing the visual aspects of silent auction displays.
Volunteer Relations Intern: The Volunteer Relations Intern will assist the Volunteer Coordinator in all aspects of the Volunteer Program including but not limited to recruitment and training volunteers, managing volunteer files, processing applications, and communicating with volunteers.

Maximizing Your Internship Experience

Internships are typically full-time, hands-on, and are required to meet the eligibility requirements for the child life certification exam. Internships are experience-based and are designed to teach and develop independent skills of child life practice. Individuals must apply to specific internship programs to secure an internship. Internships are competitive and applicants are not always offered placements the first time they apply. The CLCC and ACLP do not have control over the application requirements set for each internship program. Common internship application deadlines make the process as equitable as possible for prospective interns.

Essential Skills and Attributes

Regardless of the specific internship, certain skills and attributes are highly valued:

Strong written and verbal communication skills
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
Enthusiasm, detail-orientation, and a proactive approach
A genuine passion for working with children and families
Cultural competence and the ability to maintain confidentiality

Read also: Education for Child Psychology

tags: #child #development #internships