Open Door partners with Roots of Empathy office in Toronto and Saskatoon School Board to implement a pilot program on Roots of Empathy in the elementary Schools.
Roots of Empathy brings a neighborhoods parent and their baby into an elementary school classroom throughout the school year. With the support of a trained Roots of Empathy Instructor, children get the chance to slow down, observe, and truly connect with the baby. As they watch the parents respond with care, comfort, and understanding, students witness what a secure, loving relationship looks like. During each visit, the instructor guides the children to notice the baby’s feelings—Is the baby and to talk about what they see. By learning to name the baby’s emotions and think about what the baby might be experiencing, students develop both the emotional side of empathy (feeling with someone) and the cognitive side (understanding someone else’s perspective). Through these meaningful interactions, students build a deeper sense of compassion, kindness, loyalty, responsibility and connection with one another, family and society at large.
