Roots of Empathy

Roots of Empathy is an evidence based program that has shown significant effect in reducing levels of aggression among school aged children while raising social/emotional competence and increasing empathy. Our mission is to build caring, peaceful and civil societies through the development of empathy in children and adults.

 

At the heart of the program are an infant and parent who visit the classroom nine times over the school year. A trained Roots of Empathy Instructor coaches students to observe the baby's development and to label the baby's feelings and intentions. The baby is the 'Teacher' the instructor uses to help children to identify and reflect on their own feelings and the feelings of others.

 

The "Emotional Literacy" taught in the program lays the foundation for more safe and caring classrooms, where children are the "Changers." They are more competent in understanding their own feelings and the feeling of others, and therefore less likely to physically, psychologically and emotionally hurt each other through bullying and other emotional cruelties.