Coal City High School students in Mrs. Stith’s Child Development 1 course must spend one weekend caring for lifelike baby simulators to gain hands-on experience in infant care. The high-tech mannequins, which simulate the needs of a real baby—crying for feeding, diaper changes, and comfort—challenged students to manage the demands of parenthood 24/7. While the assignment provides an eye-opening experience for many, it also fosters empathy, responsibility, and time management skills required to care for an infant.
This hands-on approach gives students a realistic understanding of infant care. As students reflected on the experience in their followup journal assignment, many expressed newfound respect for the responsibilities of parents and caregivers and their gratitude for living their life as it is in their teenage years.