Roots of Empathy’s mission is to build caring, peaceful and civil societies through the development of empathy in children and adults. Roots of Empathy strives to break cycles of intergenerational violence and build capacity of the next generation for responsible citizenship and responsive parenting. In the short term, Roots of Empathy focuses on raising levels of empathy, resulting in more respectful and caring relationships and reduced levels of bullying and aggression. Part of our success is the universal nature of the program; all students are positively engaged instead of targeting bullies or aggressive children.
Our Goals:
– To foster the development of empathy
– To develop emotional literacy
– To reduce levels of bullying, aggression & violence and promote children’s pro-social behaviours
– To increase knowledge of human development, learning and infant safety
– To prepare students for responsible citizenship and responsive parenting
At the heart of the program are a neighbourhood infant and parent who visit the classroom throughout the school year. A trained Roots of Empathy Instructor coaches students to observe the baby’s development and label the baby’s feelings. In this experiential learning, the baby is a “Tiny Teacher” and a lever, which the instructor uses to help children identify and reflect on their feelings and the feelings of others. This emotional literacy taught lays the foundation for safer and more caring classrooms, where children are the “changers”. They are more competent in understanding their own feelings and the feelings of others (empathy) and less likely to physically, psychologically and emotionally hurt each other. The Instructor visits before and after each family visit to prepare and reinforce teachings using a specialized lesson plan. National and international evaluations indicate significant reductions in aggression and increases in pro-social behaviour.
The Roots of Empathy curriculum has many links to the classroom curriculum. For example, students use math skills when they calculate and chart the baby’s weight and measurements. Literature is used as a way to open the door to feelings and perspective taking. Art plays a large role as children draw inner feelings they cannot say. Music stirs powerful feelings and speaks to everyone regardless of language or culture.
Join us, in changing the world, child by child.
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