Our Kindergarten Classroom is incredibly blessed to participate in Roots of Empathy. This program brings in a school community’s baby and parent who visit our classroom throughout the school year. A trained Roots of Empathy Instructor coaches our students to observe the baby’s development and to label the baby’s feelings. In this experiential learning, the baby is the “Teacher” and a lever, which the Instructor uses to help the children identify and reflect on their own feelings and the feelings of others. This lays the foundation for safer and more caring classrooms, where children are the “Changers.”
Children in Roots of Empathy classrooms will:
develop executive functioning skills
develop emotional literacy
develop emotional regulation
develop resilience
learn to challenge cruelty and injustice
learn to form consensus, contributing to a culture of caring in the classroom
The Instructor visits before and after each family visit to prepare and reinforce teachings using a specialized lesson plan for each visit.
Research results from national and international evaluations of Roots of Empathy indicate significant reductions in aggression and increases in pro-social behaviour.