- Developer organization / creator
- Mary Gordon / Roots of Empathy.
Age group
Roots of Empathy: 5–13 years; Seeds of Empathy: 3–5 years.
About the program
Roots of Empathy is a school program created by Mary Gordon, centered on regular visits by an infant and a parent to the classroom. A trained instructor helps children notice the baby's emotions and developmental milestones and connect these observations to empathy and relationships. Seeds of Empathy brings the same approach into the preschool setting. The organization also trains volunteer instructors.
The infant and parent become a "living laboratory" of emotional development: children observe attachment, development, and emotions, and transfer this understanding to their relationships with others.
The program reduces aggression and strengthens empathy, caring for others, prosocial behavior, inclusiveness, and emotional understanding.
Program structure
The curriculum is divided into 9 themes, each accompanied by three sessions (preparation for the visit, the family's visit with the infant, and a post-visit discussion) — 27 sessions total over the school year; all sessions are led by a trained volunteer instructor who completes four days of training with a certified Roots of Empathy trainer. Within the nine themes, the material is further divided into four age subgroups within elementary/primary school, as well as three specialized levels: grades 1–3, grades 4–6, and grades 7–8.
Learners reached
1.2 million children worldwide; the accumulation period is not specified on the current page.
Geography
Canada, New Zealand, the United States, Ireland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Norway.
Program languages
The organization's official website explicitly confirms only English and French (for implementation in Canada), along with a mention of resources available in several Indigenous languages of Canada.
Evidence base
The program is included in the "Foundations" registry (the UK's national What Works Centre for Children & Families) with an evidence rating of 2+.
A quasi-experimental study involving 585 children in grades 4–7 (28 classrooms) recorded positive changes across several dimensions: children in classes where the ROE program was implemented were better at explaining the reasons behind infant crying, received higher peer ratings for prosocial behavior, and were less often noted by teachers as showing signs of aggressive behavior — both proactive and in interpersonal interactions. At the same time, children's self-reported empathy and perspective-taking ability did not change significantly.
Cost
The organization prepares volunteer instructors through in-person 4-day training with a certified trainer, after which instructors receive a methodological kit (learning materials, books, guides) and mentor support. During the first year, mentor support is provided via calls and correspondence. The program is adapted for four age groups (Kindergarten, Primary, Junior, Senior). The website does not publish a single fixed implementation cost — it notes that expenses vary depending on the specific country/region and include training local instructors, their certification, and subsequent methodological support.
Information on pricing and further details is available on the provider's website.
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