At Truckee High School, students in the Adulting/Life Skills course are leaning what it’s like to care for a baby. Using RealCare Babies, funded through a grant provided by Excellence in Education, students gain the knowledge and skill to become responsible caregivers. Courtney Delgado and Yvette Herrera applied for the grant because students expressed a strong desire for child development experiences as part of the course, which adapts its curriculum based on student interest.
RealCare Babies are advanced learning tools used globally to teach early childhood development, parenting, infant health, and sex education. These smart babies use wireless programming to track and report caregiver behaviors such as care events, mishandling, car seat time, and clothing changes. The curriculum includes four comprehensive sets of activities designed to create relevant and career-driven learning experiences.
The RealCare Babies program collaborates with the counseling team, special education department, and ELD coordinator to encourage all students to enroll in the Adulting Course before graduation. The primary objectives are to highlight the importance of delaying sexual activity until students are ready to handle the responsibilities of parenting and introduce the skills required for infant care. The lessons are structured to build on freshman-level health education, adhering to California health education standards.
The most successful aspect of the grant was providing each student with a baby for the simulation, allowing for a comprehensive hands-on experience.
Grant monies supported the purchase of RealCare Baby 3 Baby with a 5-year warranty, student workbooks, and charging carts. Excellence in Education is thrilled to have supported this innovative and impactful program, fostering the development of responsible and informed future caregivers. Additionally, the RealCare Babies will be used in the newly added Child Development Course at Truckee High.