Child Development classes have begun to receive their baby simulator dolls as part of a project designed to better their knowledge of infant growth and development.
Project sign-ups last throughout November to May, where six babies are given to students each week, who then keep them from Tuesday to Friday. Students can expect the doll to act as an actual infant would. For example, it wakes up during certain times of the night, crying. Students then must figure out what it is the doll needs, which can be anything from a diaper or clothes change, feeding, or just needing to be rocked. Students must also make sure that when they are rocking the baby, they hold it correctly with its head and neck supported. Overall, many students would find it quite tiring and difficult to adjust to their new schedules.
“I felt tired a lot while I had my baby because she woke up a lot,” said Devahny Posadas, a junior.
Along with students learning the practical needs of an infant, the project is also valuable in learning to manage the students’ emotions. They must learn the reality of being a parent and caring for a baby, having to work through frustration and stress in order to determine what their baby needs. Mrs. Laurie Dugan, the Child Development teacher, remarks that this is especially important in order to learn how to be gentle and prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome.
“I think students learn about the seriousness of caring for a child. I hope they realize they aren’t ready just yet, and should wait until they’re in a good situation to have a baby and give it the best care possible,” Dugan also adds.
Although a difficult project overall, many students also like the more relaxed, enjoyable aspects of it, such as dressing their dolls, or coming up with names. Segerstrom has offered this project to students for the past ten years. It has continued to teach valuable lessons throughout, and will do so for the years to come.
