RealCare Baby® Provides Real-Life Insights to Ohio Students

Will the curriculum you teach be in your students’ lives forever? Child Development teacher Sarah Ward wants to make sure it is. That’s why she’s so passionate about her subject — and it’s why she uses Realityworks’ RealCare Baby and Pregnancy Profile® Simulator in her Child Development class.

“I love teaching what I teach because my kids never have to ask themselves if they’ll need what I’m teaching,” said Ward, a tenth- through twelfth-grade teacher at Ohio’s Thomas Worthington High School. “They can use these concepts to improve their whole life.”

Sarah Ward | Child Development Teacher | Thomas Worthington High School

Ward keeps learning fun and engaging because most of her classes are elective, which means they are not required for graduation, but chosen by students based on their own interests and needs. Because of that, Ward needs to captivate her students with her projects and lessons.

“Student engagement is super important — if I don’t have the numbers, then I don’t have a job,” said Ward. “My classes are pretty known for not being your typical, standard, sit and be quiet and take tests type of classes. I’m very hands-on, very interactive, lots of project-based learning.”

Meet the Tools Changing Ward’s Classroom

According to Ward, Realityworks’ RealCare Baby and Pregnancy Profile Simulator are just the hands-on solution to teach students what it really means to be pregnant and have a baby.

“I can teach kids many different ways to take care of a baby and what babies are like,” said Ward. “But sending them home with a robot that actually needs to be cared for is infinitely invaluable.”

Baby is an interactive, take-home infant simulator that requires students to respond to lifelike care events 24/7: feeding, burping, rocking, diapering, and play. Caregivers are held accountable as Baby tracks and reports on how students respond to those care events.

The Pregnancy Profile Simulator is an immersive tool designed to help students understand the physical, emotional, and financial impacts of pregnancy, including weight gain, elevated body temperature, and restricted movement.

“I started using them at my previous school, and when I got here about seven years ago, they didn’t have any of these tools — so I advocated pretty hard to make sure I got both the Babies and the belly,” said Ward.

The Simulation Experience

Before introducing Baby, Ward brings out her Pregnancy Simulator. All students are required to wear the belly for two class periods. “I get a good mix of boys and girls, and the boys have to wear the belly just like the girls,” stated Ward.

With the belly on, students complete everyday tasks like walking stairs, running errands, and even tying their shoes. “Humans can guess another person’s experience, but actually doing it — it changes your whole mindset,” said Ward.

Afterward, students write a reflection paper describing their experience and insights. “Empathy is so important, and there’s no better way to learn these lessons than by actually doing it.”

“It’s not uncommon for parents to email me later to tell me they had great conversations about what their child experienced,” said Ward. “Not only are the kids learning a new perspective, but it sparks genuine and important conversations at home.”

The RealCare Baby Weekend

After experiencing the Pregnancy Profile Simulator, it’s time for the “Baby Weekend.” Students receive a full class period of training before taking the Baby home.

“I demonstrate how to care for the Baby, how the wristbands work, how the sensors work,” said Ward. The Babies are turned on Friday afternoon and off Sunday evening to simulate a real newborn experience.

“All the Babies are set to ‘difficult,’” said Ward. “I want them to feel like a brand-new, slightly terrified parent… as long as I can tell they’re trying, they get full credit.”

Real-life Lessons Changed Students’ Thinking

Students often experience unexpected emotional and mental challenges during the simulation. One student shared he felt overwhelmed and disconnected during the weekend, highlighting how real the experience felt. Another student realized she was not ready for parenthood after previously thinking she wanted to be a teen mom.

Ward continues to give students a true understanding of what it means to be a parent or caregiver.

“I’ve been using Realityworks’ tools for about 10 years… the difference is night and day — they’re so valuable.”

“The kids love it. Other teachers love it… How else could you ever essentially test-drive being a parent?” said Ward. “The lessons learned have truly been life-changing.”