Just after fall break, heads turned in the halls as students of Cynthia Hardy’s child development classes took on the task of caring for infants, or at least simulations of them.

The simulation, which takes place Thursday through Monday or Friday through Tuesday, is for students in the child development class who choose to experience what it is like to care for a real baby. “In child development class,” Hardy said, “the Real Care Baby simulation is a computerized baby that actually has a circuit board in it [and] simulates the care of a one-month- old newborn.”

Hardy gives her students the option to participate in the simulation because of the level of its difficulty. “If a student feels that they really cannot handle the simulation, they do have the option to shut [the baby] off,” Hardy said.

Sophomore Nastaza Darnell has participated in the simulation in the past and found that to be true. “The second day it got really hard,” Darnell said. “You have to really be patient and you have to stay confident [while] taking care of a baby.”

One week before Thanksgiving Break, more students took on the baby simulation, including junior Brianna Bradley. “I wanted to see for myself if I could actually handle the pressure of having the simulator baby for a weekend,” Bradley said.

Students agree that the simulation teaches some a lesson, and “it’s teaching young [teenagers] how it would be to have a real baby,” Bradley said.

The simulation will end for all child development students just before Winter Break.