Character Education
Roots of Empathy
A Lesson in Character Education
The Roots of Empathy character education program will be introduced into all Rainbow elementary schools this fall. Each participating class adopts a baby who visits the classroom, along with his/her parent and a trained Roots of Empathy instructor, once a month for a full school year. As the children observe the parent-infant interaction and follow the baby’s development, they learn how infants grow and develop. They also learn to understand a baby’s temperament, to observe a baby’s facial cues, to identify feelings and to effectively parent. In the process, they learn to be compassionate and caring citizens of the world.
Roots of Empathy program goals:
- to foster the development of empathy
- to develop emotional literacy
- to reduce levels of bullying, aggression and violence
- to 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
