Roots of Empathy / Seeds of Empathy

Program Overview

The program runs in two streams: Roots of Empathy for children aged 5–13 and Seeds of Empathy for early-years settings with children aged 3–5. By observing a real infant over a school year, children learn to recognise feelings and empathise. The program reduces aggression, strengthens helping and caring behaviour, and builds resilience. Active in Canada, New Zealand, the USA, the UK and Norway.

Roots of Empathy, created by Mary Gordon, uses a real baby and parent as a living laboratory for emotional development. A trained instructor helps children observe the baby's growth, feelings and relationship with the parent, then transfer that understanding into their own relationships. Seeds of Empathy adapts the model for early-years settings.

Who It Is For

Children learn empathy by observing a real infant across the school year.

Typically works with: Primary schools, early-years settings, trained instructors, volunteer facilitators and families.

Where It Puts the Emphasis

• Experiential empathy learning
• Emotional literacy and perspective-taking
• Caring and prosocial behaviour
• Inclusion and aggression prevention

What It Develops

• Empathy
• emotional literacy
• reducing aggression
• caring behaviour

Implementation

1. 1
   Train instructors

   Facilitators complete four days of training and receive a curriculum kit.
2. 2
   Prepare each visit

   Students learn about development and prepare questions before the family visit.
3. 3
   Observe and reflect

   A baby visit gives the class a concrete experience to discuss and interpret.
4. 4
   Transfer the learning

   Children connect observations about emotions and relationships to everyday life.

Available Resources

• Curriculum and lesson materials
• Educator guides
• Provider website