Real Care Baby Programme
Posted by Fiona Moseley
Rotary Central Supports Child Development Programmes at John Gray High School.
Rotary Central has continued support for the Child Development/Care programme at John Gray High School.
Last month members of the Home Economics department were presented with a package of hands-on teaching materials for the Real Care Baby Programme by Ken Guiste Rotary Central Director Community Service along with Rotarians Margaret Jackson and Juliet Osbourne. Supplies included accessory packages containing receiving blankets, diaper bags and infant car seat/carriers. Along with the accessories, the department also received a pregnancy simulator and manikins to demonstrate the effects of alcohol, drugs and shaking on a baby.
RealCareÃ'® babies provide true-to-life experiences in one of the most important jobs in lifeâ?¦â?¦ taking care of babies. Professionals worldwide in the areas of Child Development, Family & Consumer Sciences, Health, Life Skills and Social Services are using the RealCare Baby programmefor infant care lessons, parenting education and Child Development. It's also used as a teen pregnancy prevention strategy. The RealCare Programme offers a realistic experience and also encourages healthy choices, personal goal setting, and dialogue with parents/guardians for young participants. The hands-on, interactive learning has been proven effective by independent research. Studies reveal that parenting programs that include science-based tools such as computerized infant simulators have a significantly greater positive effect on participants compared with programs that rely upon curricula alone. Along with the accessories, the school also received a pregnancy simulator and dolls to demonstrate the effects of alcohol, drugs and shaking on a baby. Along with the accessories, the school also received a pregnancy simulator and dolls to demonstrate the effects of alcohol, drugs and shaking on a baby.
The pregnancy simulator replicates the third trimester of pregnancy. It comes with an adjustable rib constrictor to simulate shallowness of breath and fetal limb pressure, and a refillable water bladder with suspended weight to simulate mild fetal movement. The complete vest weighs approximately 25 pounds. Corresponding curriculum covers the development of the fetus and the physical changes every expectant mother experiences. Participants reflect on the financial costs of having a baby, how family and friends might react, and how pregnancy and parenting affects the life goals of both the mother and the father.
Approximately 25 percent of shaken baby victims die from their injuries. Experts agree that awareness of SBS is critical for everyone who cares for an infant, responds to family emergencies, or trains future parents, babysitters and child care providers. Combined with a curriculum that helps establish a plan for coping with an inconsolable baby, an experience with the Shaken Baby Syndrome Simulatorâ"¢ will stick with participants for a lifetime. The life-sized electronic simulator is equipped with accelerometers that measure the force on the brain when shaken. A see-through vinyl head reveals LED lights that indicate the damaged areas of the brain in real time. Materials included with the simulator describe the type and extent of injuries shaking can cause, list the many reasons babies cry, offer techniques to calm an inconsolable baby, and help participants establish a plan for managing those stressful times without harming an infant in their care.
The Drug-Affected Demonstrator dramatically shows the devastating effects of substance use by a pregnant woman. A lifelike, anatomically correct female, it bears a painful facial expression, tiny limbs and is small for its gestational age. The heartbreaking cries of a real drug-affected infant and withdrawal tremors hit home with teenagers and adults alike. The demonstrator package includes information and activities about drug use during pregnancy.
The Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Manikin is based on actual Fetal Alcohol Syndrome infants. It represents only some of alcohol's many devastating effects on a developing fetus, including small head circumference, narrow eye openings, flat midface, flat nose bridge and ear abnormalities. The anatomically correct female manikin is small for gestational age. The accompanying handbook outlines the multitude of injuries from alcohol you can't see, such as brain damage, learning difficulties, behavioral problems and mental disabilities.
Director Community Service Ken Guiste said "This is an ongoing project which Rotary Central began many years ago, gaining parenting experience without the commitment can help the students realize that it's not easy to bring up a young baby during your teen years when you are not emotionally ready for such an important commitment". Special thanks also go to Seaboard Marine who paid for all freight costs.
Last month members of the Home Economics department were presented with a package of hands-on teaching materials for the Real Care Baby Programme by Ken Guiste Rotary Central Director Community Service along with Rotarians Margaret Jackson and Juliet Osbourne. Supplies included accessory packages containing receiving blankets, diaper bags and infant car seat/carriers. Along with the accessories, the department also received a pregnancy simulator and manikins to demonstrate the effects of alcohol, drugs and shaking on a baby.
RealCareÃ'® babies provide true-to-life experiences in one of the most important jobs in lifeâ?¦â?¦ taking care of babies. Professionals worldwide in the areas of Child Development, Family & Consumer Sciences, Health, Life Skills and Social Services are using the RealCare Baby programmefor infant care lessons, parenting education and Child Development. It's also used as a teen pregnancy prevention strategy. The RealCare Programme offers a realistic experience and also encourages healthy choices, personal goal setting, and dialogue with parents/guardians for young participants. The hands-on, interactive learning has been proven effective by independent research. Studies reveal that parenting programs that include science-based tools such as computerized infant simulators have a significantly greater positive effect on participants compared with programs that rely upon curricula alone. Along with the accessories, the school also received a pregnancy simulator and dolls to demonstrate the effects of alcohol, drugs and shaking on a baby. Along with the accessories, the school also received a pregnancy simulator and dolls to demonstrate the effects of alcohol, drugs and shaking on a baby.
The pregnancy simulator replicates the third trimester of pregnancy. It comes with an adjustable rib constrictor to simulate shallowness of breath and fetal limb pressure, and a refillable water bladder with suspended weight to simulate mild fetal movement. The complete vest weighs approximately 25 pounds. Corresponding curriculum covers the development of the fetus and the physical changes every expectant mother experiences. Participants reflect on the financial costs of having a baby, how family and friends might react, and how pregnancy and parenting affects the life goals of both the mother and the father.
Approximately 25 percent of shaken baby victims die from their injuries. Experts agree that awareness of SBS is critical for everyone who cares for an infant, responds to family emergencies, or trains future parents, babysitters and child care providers. Combined with a curriculum that helps establish a plan for coping with an inconsolable baby, an experience with the Shaken Baby Syndrome Simulatorâ"¢ will stick with participants for a lifetime. The life-sized electronic simulator is equipped with accelerometers that measure the force on the brain when shaken. A see-through vinyl head reveals LED lights that indicate the damaged areas of the brain in real time. Materials included with the simulator describe the type and extent of injuries shaking can cause, list the many reasons babies cry, offer techniques to calm an inconsolable baby, and help participants establish a plan for managing those stressful times without harming an infant in their care.
The Drug-Affected Demonstrator dramatically shows the devastating effects of substance use by a pregnant woman. A lifelike, anatomically correct female, it bears a painful facial expression, tiny limbs and is small for its gestational age. The heartbreaking cries of a real drug-affected infant and withdrawal tremors hit home with teenagers and adults alike. The demonstrator package includes information and activities about drug use during pregnancy.
The Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Manikin is based on actual Fetal Alcohol Syndrome infants. It represents only some of alcohol's many devastating effects on a developing fetus, including small head circumference, narrow eye openings, flat midface, flat nose bridge and ear abnormalities. The anatomically correct female manikin is small for gestational age. The accompanying handbook outlines the multitude of injuries from alcohol you can't see, such as brain damage, learning difficulties, behavioral problems and mental disabilities.
Director Community Service Ken Guiste said "This is an ongoing project which Rotary Central began many years ago, gaining parenting experience without the commitment can help the students realize that it's not easy to bring up a young baby during your teen years when you are not emotionally ready for such an important commitment". Special thanks also go to Seaboard Marine who paid for all freight costs.