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Teenagers Learn Motherhood Through Doll Care
13 May
Summary
- Students carry baby dolls to understand parental struggles.
- The program targets teenagers with behavioral issues.
- Critics question doll realism and potential discouragement from parenthood.
Yuanzhong Special Education School in Xuzhou, China, has implemented a unique teaching strategy for teenagers exhibiting behavioral difficulties. Students are required to care for baby dolls, weighing approximately 2.5kg, for an entire week to simulate the real-life struggles of parenting.
This program involves students carrying the dolls throughout their school day, including during classes and meals, and even simulating walking with them to experience the physical exertion. The school's principal stated the goal is to help students understand parental sacrifices and cultivate gratitude.
While some parents have expressed support, noting positive changes in their children's attitudes, the method has also faced criticism. Online commentators have pointed out the dolls' inability to cry or require constant attention, unlike real infants. Concerns were also raised that the experience might discourage teenagers from becoming parents in the future.
