CAFS

Life as a Parent or Carer

Year 12 Community and Family Studies students are having a busy start to the year as they become first time ‘parents and carers’ to a ‘baby’ for 1 week.  ‘Dr Clough’ delivered the new ‘babies’ in the nursery to the very excited students.

We are currently studying the topic ‘Parenting and Caring’ and are developing an understanding of the types of parents and carers there are and how to best prepare for the role in order to optimise the wellbeing of a dependent.  We have also delved into the world of adoption, fostering, step parenting and surrogacy. All of which have resulted in fantastic discussions about the implications of each. 

Mrs Clough, having had 2 children of her own with disabilities, has given the students a real-life journey of what it is like to be a carer, the joys, the struggles, the ups and downs life can throw at you while inspiring resilience in our students. Ms Downes and Ms Walls classes will also give birth stories in the coming days.

The ‘student parents’ have been given a 3kg ‘sand baby’ to care for. They had to name it, receive a birth certificate for he/she, put a nappy on their baby, dress it, wrap it, work a pram, while juggling their school bags, school life and the general public’s reactions. A diary is kept and some get boys, some get girls and some lucky ones get twins. The students also get to experience an electronic real care baby for two nights, where the baby must be fed, burped, have nappies changed, and cared for. Students and families have to put up with the loud crying throughout the day and night. 

Year 12 soon learnt that caring for something other than themselves takes effort (even if it isn’t real), and that the life of a parent or carer is not an easy one.  I don't think many students will be rushing into parenthood anytime soon. 

Well done Year 12.

Mrs Shannon Clough 

Community and Family Studies Teacher (TAS)