Calling all babies! ‘Tiny Teachers’ wanted for Roots of Empathy program

The district is looking for "tiny teachers" -- newborns between the ages of 2 and 4 months in October -- to join our Roots of Empathy program, designed to enhance the social and emotional development of elementary students by teaching them traits of care and kindness. (Photo by Roots of Empathy)

Parents of newborns! Did you know your baby could be a valuable teacher to elementary students?

Surrey Schools is seeking the next generation of “tiny teachers” – who will be between 2 to 4 months in October – to participate in Roots of Empathy, an award-winning program that encourages social and emotional development by teaching K-7 children traits of care, kindness, inclusivity and helpfulness.

Throughout the school year, parents and their babies will visit a classroom once a month (nine times total) with the trained Roots of Empathy instructor and classroom teacher. Students observe and interact with babies on a blanket, learning about their own and each other’s emotions by learning about babies’ emotions as they grow and develop.

Run by the Community-Schools Partnership department, Roots of Empathy’s mission is to build caring, peaceful and civil societies through the development of empathy in children and adults. The evidence-based classroom program has been shown to raise social and emotional competence and increase empathy while reducing levels of aggression and bullying among students. Students will also celebrate baby milestones, such as rolling over, clapping, verbalizing, sitting and more!

Across Canada, the program currently reaches students from kindergarten to Grade 8, in English and French, and in rural, urban, remote and Aboriginal communities, both on and off reserve. The program is also being piloted internationally in Australia, New Zealand and the United States.

If you or someone you know would be interested in participating in the Roots of Empathy program, please email CSP facilitator Jordynn Punter at punter_j@surreyschools.ca or CSP manager Meredith Verma at verma_meredith@surreyschools.ca

For more information, click here or visit rootsofempathy.org

Frequently Asked Questions

How will I know what we are doing in class at each Family Visit? Do I have to answer questions or teach anything to the class?

The instructor will tell you in advance what theme the class will be talking about and will lead all of the lessons. Parents are asked to talk about their baby and answer any questions the students may have.

Can I bring my other children to the Family Visit?

It is best if only the parent(s) and baby come to the class without older children so that the students focus on the baby. Sometimes arrangements might be made with the teacher to have the sibling accompany the family on an occasion when babysitting is unavailable.

If I can’t come to a visit, can I send someone else with the baby?

Only a parent can bring the baby to a classroom visit. The focus of the program is to see the bond between the parent and the baby. We need to know before you volunteer if you plan to return to work during the school year. If you do, your instructor can give you a letter for your workplace explaining the program and asking if you can have the time off to finish the classes.

Are parents paid to come to the class?

No. Roots of Empathy parents are volunteers.

What about twins?

When Roots of Empathy parents have twins, we ask that they only participate with one of the infants. The fascination of the interaction of two babies takes the focus off the miracle of the attachment and attunement between an infant human being and his or her parents. Some parents of twins participate in two different classrooms, one class per baby.