Research Findings: This essay offers a review of challenges that university laboratory preschools face in providing a site for research that fits with other components of the program mission. An argument is made to consider paradigm shifts in research questions and methods that move away from traditions within the fields that study children's development. The close analysis of teaching and learning are ideally suited to the university laboratory preschool. Practice or Policy: Suggestions for meeting challenges relative to addressing reluctance from teachers and children for research participation and ensuring that the setting provides a realistic and authentic model for generating useful research are discussed.