Teaching empathy through babies

Times Reporter  

 

In today’s society with bullying a predominant issue, steps are being taken to teach our youth how to empathize with others and promote social awareness. 

Roots of Empathy (ROE) has been in Strathmore for years now, and each year proves to be just as successful as the one preceding it. Since 1996 ROE has brought babies into the classrooms to help teach students empathy. The babies are always four months old or younger because one focus behind the program is allowing the children to see how the baby grows, and recording the differences in height, weight and appearance. 

Erin Brown has been bringing her son Miles to Ms. Cooke’s Grade 5 class since September. Miles was born on July 24 and makes the visit once a month to see his friends at Westmount. 

“I love it. It’s really rewarding and I feel like Miles gets quite a bit out of it to come and see the kids. I love seeing their reaction to him,” said Brown. 

“I would love to be asked to do it again.”

Roots Instructor Michelle Warrack teaches the class different things about babies, such as transitional objects, sleeping patterns, SIDS, every week for the three weeks between Miles’ visits.  

Cooke has had ROE instructors and moms bringing their babies into her classroom for five years. 

“I like that it teaches the kids empathy and so they start to understand how other people feel and it helps them on the playground if someone gets upset you can even say to them what did you think when baby Miles got upset, how could we help somebody not be upset,” said Cooke. 

“It’s a national program and the studies have shown that it helps reduce bullying in schools.” 

Cooke said usually the parents bringing their babies into the school already have children enrolled in the school. Miles and Erin will have their last visit in June where the kids will get a chance to say goodbye, and a chance to go over everything Miles has taught them throughout the school year.