[pepper73]

My BF's daughter told me something today that shocked me. You know how they do those projects with kids where they give them a doll with a computer chip in it so that the doll mimics a baby? It's supposed to teach kids how hard it is to care for a baby and of course make them think twice before becoming sexually active. Well, I had always thought it was high school students who did those projects, but my BF's daughter told me that they do it in 8th grade at her school! WTH???? 8th Grade??? Either I'm just too old and behind the times, or I'm right in thinking it's way too early. I know kids are becoming sexually active earlier these days, but I was still shocked that they do that project before the kids are even in high school.

What do you all think? Am I overreacting? Does it scare you as much as it scared me?

[LauraTTCat42]

That is a bit of a shocker. Seems like such a young age to be showing children what parenting is like. I mean shouldn't children be acting like children in 8th grade and not spending time on raising an automated baby?

What if the 8th grader had not considered even having sex but was so good with the animated baby that they figured it wouldn't be such a bad thing after all to have a child so young?

IMO things of that nature with "tweens" should be dealt with at home when the parents think it is appropriate.

[Counting our Blessings]

I agree with you Laura . At 8th grade, this should be left up to the parents. I would not be a happy parent about this, but that is a reason our kids don't attend school. But wow, 8th grade. I didn't get my first period until halfway through 8th grade.

[pepper73]

I'm glad I'm not crazy or too far behind the times. I am still in shock about it and I agree...this is something that should be up to the parents. Kids are growing up too fast as it is.

[*SamF*]

Looking at it from the other side, teen pregnancy rates for that age group has risen. I know we have had pregnant girls here as younger than that. I know here parents can opt their kids out. But the classes are aimed at the ones who do not get any sex education at home.
My beef with our system here is that they council girls as young as 13 to keep their babies vs giving them up for adoption. The reason given- was that for some of the girls they don't have anybody else in their life that loves them unconditionally. So you repeat the cycle.

[MarieJ]

I'm good with it, aren't the stats crazy high for girls dtd by the age of 12 or something crazy like that? Now I don't know any 12year olds here that are doing it, but thats not really my kids' age group yet. And yes, the good parents are informing their kids early, but those usually aren't the teen pregnancy kids now are they? Its usually the un-informed kids without the good parent models who are getting stuck finding love in the wrong places.

FWIW I don't think the doll is good enough, all teens should be forced to spend 24hrs with me under my roof, it'll be a better deterrant than any plastic crying doll I'm sure at least half of them will become celibate!

[mum74]

Our 8th grade, girls are 12 going on 13, and they are in highschool and I therefore exposed to older persuasive boys (as bad as that sounds, that's the reality isn't it?). And from whatever I've read, a lot of kids ARE sexually active from this age. We mightn't want to believe it but I think doing something like this means the school is not trying to ignore the fact that some of their kids may be sexually active, or thinking about it. I agree with Marie though.... spending all day with a whingey 2yo, with a baby thrown in should be mandatory too!!

BTW Marie, Not sure if it's Theo or Arthur on the left of your siggie, but Oliver (my 6yo), just walked up and says 'he looks familiar to me from karate'. Don't think so buddy!

[BeckyM]

Wow! That does seem young to me, but I too have read that the statistics for this age group being sexually active and pg rates are increasing. Sad, very sad.

[pepper73]

You ladies have a good point. I do know that kids are doing things younger and younger. I just wish there was something we could do about it. What really kills me are those young girls who get pregnant on purpose. I just don't get it.

Marie, your solution cracked me up! You should put the word out at your local schools!