How babies can help soothe rowdy teenage boys at school

How babies can help soothe rowdy teenage boys at school

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 11:20 AM on 23rd February 2009

Taking babies into classrooms can tame tearaway teenage boys and turn them into model pupils, according to research.

Troublemakers become calmer and more mature when newborn babies are brought regularly into their schools for students to play with and learn about.


Calming influence: Teenage boys became less rowdy when newborn babies were brought regularly into their schools (file photo)

Twenty primaries and secondaries around the country are taking part in a pioneering scheme which involves linking local mothers with classes of children.


Soothing: Youngsters become more disciplined when the babies were present (file photo)

During special monthly sessions with the infants over three years, pupils play with them, discuss their development and learn about parenting.

Teachers say that youngsters become immediately more disciplined during the sessions and are prepared to follow rules such as taking it in turns to speak to avoid upsetting the baby.

Teachers also believe pupils who have taken part are less inclined to become teenage parents because they have seen the realities of parenting.

The scheme was trialled in schools in Liverpool and is now being launched nationally.

An evaluation by Liverpool University found evidence that behaviour 'improved markedly'.

Pupils who were more likely to be boisterous became calmer while subdued children were more assertive.

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1152654/How-babies-help-soothe-rowdy-teenage-boys-school.html