Nursery World - Virtual reality babies: Cry babies

As if placements with real babies weren't enough, students on two childcare courses are having to care for living dolls

Watching last summer's "Big Brother" contestants struggle through a challenge to care for a virtual reality baby inspired us to get a couple for the Diploma in Childcare and Education course,' says Lynn Forrester of Evesham College. 'The contestants found looking after the doll much harder than they expected, and we saw it as a great way for our childcare students to experience the frustrations of caring for a baby too.

'Our simulator dolls, named Dot and Jim, are incredibly life-like - they have floppy heads and are anatomically correct and sensitive to how they're held. 'Students have to learn to handle them properly and give appropriate care. A key on a tamper-resistant band is attached to the carer's arm so only that person can tend the crying baby by placing the key into the doll's back - it can't be offloaded or turned off.

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