'Baby Think It Over' program teaches girls motherhood is no easy task

Published: 2006-02-27

CHICAGO (CNS) -- For Sandra Avorywoskie, it was the way her baby would cry every time she rolled over and tried to go back to sleep. That was when her school project -- caring for a computerized baby doll for the weekend -- suddenly seemed like a lot more than she had signed up for. "I thought it was going to be easy," said Avorywoskie, a senior at Notre Dame High School for Girls in Chicago. "I knew it would be challenging, but it was more work than I thought. I just wanted it to stop crying so I could go to sleep." Avorywoskie took the doll home as part of Marcia Berke's family development class, an elective offered to juniors and seniors. Each student takes a baby home one weekend, and the doll records how well they handle the task. Did they let it cry too long without responding? Let it go too long between feedings or diaper changes? Handle it roughly? All of that comes out on the report Berke generates when the dolls are returned. This is all part of a program called "Baby Think It Over," which uses dolls from Realityworks, a Wisconsin company that has developed several life skills programs.

Copyright (c) 2006 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .