May 21, 2024
By Chiara Cardone
Staff Writer
Students in Mrs. Falco’s Psychology in Literature course got a glimpse of the parenting experience through an assignment known as the Baby Project.
During the week of April 15-19, the 50 students enrolled in both sections of the elective were responsible for taking care of their “adopted babies,” which were dolls or stuffed toys, throughout the school day. The babies were required to be at least a month old, and students were able to choose their ages.
The project presented an added challenge since each adopted baby was assigned a developmental disability prompted by their biological mother’s abuse of one of six substances–alcohol, cocaine, heroin and narcotics, marijuana, methamphetamines or nicotine and tobacco–during pregnancy. The students were then tasked with researching the effects of that developmental disability with the goal of providing their babies with the best and most appropriate care.
Students were also required to keep written logs chronicling their babies’ activities and behaviors throughout the day and explaining how they were being affected as adopted parents.
Falco, who introduced the Baby Project in 2008, said she appreciates the students’ commitment to the assignment.
“I love seeing all the baby dolls as I walk down the hallways and how nurturing students are with their little bundles of joy,” Falco said. “Oftentimes, they are not even the students in the class. They are other students babysitting for the Psych in Lit students because they have phys ed that period.”
Falco said students report back to her about challenges they faced during the project, but they also share positive experiences.
“Many students tell me they feel a sense of loss when the project ends, as they have become attached, carrying and caring for their baby for an entire week,” Falco said. “Students really seem to enjoy having the opportunity to learn what it feels like to genuinely take care of someone else.”
For the project, junior Savio Nguyen used a stuffed penguin named Kimchi to symbolize a baby affected by her birth mother’s addiction to alcohol.
“I learned how to actually try taking care of a baby while doing work and other activities,” Nguyen said. “I had to make sure I [had] Kimchi at all times [and was] keeping her safe.”
Nguyen said when he took care of Kimchi, he thought of her as a real baby.
“If someone just grab[bed] her by the head or the arm… my parenting instincts [told] me it [was] very bad for the baby.”
Nguyen said Falco should continue assigning this project to her future classes because it is fun and educational.
“If you actually care about this project, you can see how it really feels to be a parent,” Nguyen said.
The week after the project, students were required to attend a session with one of 10 teachers who acted as a therapist. They were required to show the therapist the baby’s birth certificate and a photo album or slideshow in addition to explaining how they helped their baby cope with complications and articulating the steps they took to address their challenges as adoptive parents.
“Many students tell me they feel a sense of loss when the project ends, as they have become attached, carrying and caring for their baby for an entire week.”
Junior Valery Hernandez, whose adopted baby was represented by a baby doll named Kesha, said she chose to meet with English teacher Dr. DiMaggio because she knows her from the Mock Trial Club and an SAT prep course.
“I was a little nervous about meeting with her because I’ve never had a therapy session,” Hernandez said. “She [asked] me how I coped with the baby and what were some of the stronger hardships I went through and responsibilities I had.”
Hernandez said because Kesha’s birth mother used cocaine while pregnant, Kesha developed neonatal abstinence syndrome, which is a group of conditions that causes a baby to experience withdrawal symptoms from the substance they were exposed to in the womb.
Hernandez said the project taught her valuable lessons.
“Obviously, we know you shouldn’t use substances while pregnant, but [the project] really put it in my mind,” Hernandez said. “It’s a good learning experience, both on substance abuse and parenting…. It gives you a better sense of responsibility.”
