Students in Human Growth and Development class get a unique perspective on parenthood with their annual baby project.

Ms. Pope, who teaches the class, said the purpose of this project is to give an example of how much care is required to care for a newborn. 

“Hopefully to delay parenthood until someone is really ready for parenthood,” Pope said of the purpose behind the project. 

The baby project offers objectives that mimic ways that babies may act. These are called “cares.” 

The cares range from changing the baby’s diaper, feeding, head support, rocking and burping the baby. 

You can miss checks if you do not perform these cares on time. Grades are based on how often you perform these checks, and if you miss any checks, points will be docked off. 

Junior Andrew Munday, who was in that class last semester, said the hardest part of the project was the constant crying. 

“It would stop crying for like 10 minutes, and then start crying again,” Munday said. 

Although the project involves caring for a baby, you have the option to do an alternate assignment. The alternate assignment is quite difficult and time consuming compared to the baby, however.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Junior Sandy Kassaimih did the original assignment and said her baby cried nonstop the weekend she took it home. 

“I think it’s easier to take care of a real baby because you don’t need to guess why it’s crying,” Kassaimih said.