Should Teenage Girls Be Given A Baby Simulator For Real Life Experience?

In my ECP class, we have to take care of a plastic baby that cries every 3 hours for 2 days. I had my chance last Wednesday, and it drove me insane. It kept waking me up in the night so I had minimum hours of sleep, I think about 2. By the second day, I was acting like I was on sugar and the day I returned it, I was agrresive. Doing this made me understand the babies though, and this was easier than taking care of a real baby, so if I couldn't survive that, there's no way I'm getting pregnant anytime soon.

I think that it is a good way for people to understand how difficult and unstable having a child can make you, but I'm turning 16 and there are people younger than me who are pregnant. So my question is... should we give these babies to 13 year olds to try and stop teen pregnancy?

 

Hmm, for sixteen it seems about the right age.

I'm not sure the legal age for sex in your country but 16 is usually the most common age. Giving it to 13 year olds is bad, it's like expecting them to have underage sex and having kids. Believe me when I say kids that are underage and have their own kids they are in a lot of sh!t. Most realize their mistake and try to fix it by caring for the child and getting job, a kid can be a real motivation.

Lowering it to 13 would be too extreme, like telling a pregnant woman how their kid will be in its teens, it's too soon to talk about.

 

On the contrary many teens just go and get an abortion. I think 13 would be a good age to give the baby simulators too. Sure they are young, but that really doesn't matter, look at the stuff we see in entertainment, that could be influencing them, if they knew what a baby is like, I don't think they would have sex, and if they already were, they would probably stop.

 

True, some teens get an abortion, but I meant teens that keep the baby or have it at a later date when they can't have an abortion, they either learn alot from a child and try to work for it or learn nothing and dump it somewhere, it depends on the person.
And you really underestimate sexual urges at your teens, people won't stop having sex because a baby is tough to handle, if that were true, no one would really have sex, underage sex has risen incredibly, no way can a baby stop that.
But having a simulation at 13 is like saying that, people expect teens to have underage non-protected sex than have kids, while having at the legal age, shows that the system is being responsible and encouraging people to have sex after the legal age.

 

I disagree. Younger kids having the baby would help. They would atleast take a precaution if they were having sex. A friend of mine, after he had one of the babys said what he learned from the baby was, "DON'T HAVE SEX!" And this guy was not the most virgin person I know, that goes to show that it can be a good influence. I also disagree that having the simulation at 13 is like saying they expect them to have sex because it also is a life experience and it is something we do need to learn about, and if they do have it at the younger age I don't think that they will want to start having sex because the baby is such a hardship.

 

What do you mean "Plastic Baby"?

 

I think they should even if you don't want to beacause if you're going to have a baby that is what it's going to be like so it gives you good experience and sometimes it could save girls from having them when they're too young they could acually see what it's like then change their minds.​

 

I dont like pushing things on people, I say no >.<

But if they do they should get some sort of credit if they do...

 

yes , as a school assingment.


i remember they made us take care of eggs...luckily eggs dont cry.

but i would have wanted a plastic baby.

to both boys and girls.

 

K but what if they are going on a trip that weekend or something? what a pain in the ass that would be, id chuck the damn thing out the window XD

 

I agree! Even though it would be a pain, it will save a lot of teens from getting pregnant and show them that if they ever do get pregnant that thats how hard it is to handle a baby and change there mind from getting pregnant.

 

XD...nice parenting.

anyways....thats all part of having children.

so a little understanding on it...wouldnt hurt....aside from the incesive crying at night XD.

 

I'd be fine with it. put a pillow on the dang things head and you're set. I only sleep two hours anyways.

 

i don't see what harm it could cause so i would suppose so. anyways, it could be good experience. i wouldn't recommend it for middle schoolers tho, it just doesn't feel right. but then again, a POSSIBLE harm might be giving the teens a false sense of knowledge?

 

I think it's OK to give it to middle schooller I have to get one in seventh grade acually.​

 

I agree with giving teens baby stimulaters all the way, except not to 13 year olds. I'm 13, and somehow giving a baby stimulater seems like promoting underage sex to me. I think baby stimulaters are really good for showing a real life experience, just not for young teens around 13-15. ​

 

There is a show on E! that covers something like this, believe it or not: I don't remember the name (baby boomers???), but it takes a bunch of teenage couples, ranging from 16 to 18, and they are 'lent' (not the best word, I know) a baby from willing parents for about a week or so, with the parents and such people watching and rating the teenagers to see if they would be ready for parenthood, should it ever occur. I'm pretty sure most of you know how many would crack under the pressure of a two-year old, but if you were to watch this show, you would be surprised at how fast.

Should the 'plastic doll' be used? Sure. There are worst ways of finding out you're not ready for parenthood, or kids: Just ask the kids on that show.

 

I think it would be best if the teens were in High School but I do think it's a good idea to do. I remember being given an egg I had to take care of for a few days and take everywhere and if it broke I failed that lesson. It was kind of insightful though we also all made fun of each other having to carry the eggs all around and even assign an 'egg sitter' in gym class. I think a baby doll, as weird as it might have seemed to be, probably would have been a better lesson but the egg did the trick.

Also, I do think it rather important both boys and girls do it. I'm not sure if I'd think it should be taught before the kid is in high school. That's something I have to think on more. There are quite a few teenage pregnancies that happen before teens reach high school so maybe. I just don't know if the message would hit them as clearly as it does a 15-16 year old. At the same time though, I don't think a babysitting sort of course would be such a bad thing for 13 year olds which might give them an introductory to taking care of babies but not having to have the doll around at all hours. This would help them learn first aid and care so it would be 'something'.

 

Do you mean Baby Borrowers[sp?] or am I lost xD but I watched a show called 'Baby Borrowers' pretty much all the teens were saying that they wanted to have a baby and that they were ready but most complained and wern't very good that is why I think you should always try parenting out before you decide to have one.​

 

Lol, it's called "Baby Borrowers." I've seen it once, but I don't think it's good that parents are just "lending" their babies for someone to use in a reality show. Otherwise, I think it's a good way to make the teens see the whole experience of taking care of a baby.​