LEARNING ABOUT PARENTHOOD. Human Growth and Development is a unique class at Valley Heights that offers students valuable lessons about parenting and responsibility. One of the most memorable aspects of this course is the assignment where students take home robotic babies for a weekend. These lifelike dolls are programmed to simulate the needs of a real infant, requiring attention at all hours for feeding, changing, and soothing. The experience is designed to teach students about the realities of caring for a baby, highlighting the physical and emotional demands of parenthood.
A few weekends ago, senior Faye Jones took home a robotic baby and she said, “It definitely taught me a lot of lessons and even a few days after the project I would still hear baby cries in my head!” It can be a lot to balance usual activities with the constant care the robotic baby requires. This hands-on approach helps to make sure students have a sense of responsibility and empathy, giving them a better understanding of the commitment involved in raising a child.
Article by Anne Toerber