03 Apr 2023
Year 10 Child Studies have been getting a taste of parenthood this term with each student allocated their own RealCare Infant Simulator for a night.
The class are assessed on their care for the simulated child, with the simulator evaluating the students’ feeding and handling of the child. This means that the babies needed to be changed, burped and soothed just like the real thing.
Though the class had a turn with the dolls for a day in Year 9, this assessment was the first time they were responsible for simulations overnight. Just as with real children, their experiences were wildly different.
“Mine didn’t turn off and I was up all night,” exclaims Avneet Kaur, “My back started hurting because I was walking it around all the time.”
“I cried because I was up all night and had work the following day,” adds Roopneet Kaur. Her friend Jasleen adds that the girls got through the assignment with the help of some late-night conference calls for support. “Our friends were supportive,” Jasleen explains, “we all helped each other.”
“Am I the only one who found it really easy?” Nevaeh Eveille asks, noting her child didn’t make a peep between 9pm and 6.30am. She then added that she did, in-fact, have to pacify her baby for an entire school period before it calmed down.
When questioned whether they would do the assessment over again, the answer was a unanimous yes. When asked whether they would have children of their own in light of the assessment, the answer was also a yes, but not any time soon.
