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Each spring, the kindergarten welcomes about twenty babies into our classroom.
This year, the project started with a lively discussion about babies when Cindy, our classroom teacher
from last year, shared that she was pregnant. Soon, a “Baby Care
Space” would be opening in our room and each child would have a baby.
They began by picking a skin tone for their baby - then they decided their relationship
to the baby. Would it be adopted into a “forever family” – Would it be
a girl? A boy? Would it use a bottle or nurse?
When the babies arrived the children decorated and clothed them. Each child filled out a
Care Sheet with important information about their babies to share with the group.
- My baby feels safe when...
- Important things to please remember about my baby.
- Things that make my baby smile and feel happy.
- Thngs that scare my baby.
Real live babies came in for visits and a
pediatrician mom gave baby “ check-ups.” It was a common
sight to see three or more children strolling through the hallways wearing baby
backpacks, pushing strollers and introducing their babies to the school.
The Baby Care Project is always timely in the spring as the children begin to realize that
our time with each other is coming to an end. Just as they have been nurtured throughout the year,
this is their chance to become the caregiver to something smaller and still wonderfully cuddly.
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