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Kids Can Fly Brantford
Kids Can Fly supports families in Brantford and Brant County through accessible programs for early learning, connection and growth.

It’s a Family Affair

Apr 27, 2015 | Community, Kids Can Fly News, Roots of Empathy

roots grammas and babes

Pictured are Nancy Corke, with daughter Katelyn and grandson Rowen, Susan Miller with daughter in law Ashley Miller and grandson Locklan and Margot Kneale with her daughter Lauren and grandson Henry. To further the impact Margot and Lauren are delivering the program in Lauren’s former grade 1 class at Grandview school.

Roots of Empathy has been an important program hosted by Kids Can Fly since 2003. Thanks to the dedicated, trained volunteers who go into the classrooms 27 times a school year we have been able to provide it to more than 11000 elementary school children within Brant (both school boards). The heart of the program is a young infant who visits once a month with their mom or dad. The children bond to the baby and experience empathy. When empathy goes up aggression goes down.

This year we have something exceptional happening in that three of our volunteer instructors are all delivering the program with their own grandchildren! “We have had this happen with one family on occasion but to have three in one year is really marvelous and so special for all involved.” said Sharon Brooks – ED of Kids Can Fly and the coordinator or Roots of Empathy. “Roots of Empathy is all about relationships so this is truly the best role model that could be.”

Pictured are Nancy Corke, with daughter Katelyn and grandson Rowen, Susan Miller with daughter in law Ashley Miller and grandson Locklan and Margot Kneale with her daughter Lauren and grandson Henry. To further the impact Margot and Lauren are delivering the program in Lauren’s former grade 1 class at Grandview school.

Kids Can Fly will be looking for more families to volunteer with their summer born babies this fall. To learn more email Sharon at info@kidscanfly.ca

Roots of Empathy Supported by Excel

Apr 27, 2015 | Community, Donations and Sponsorships, Kids Can Fly News, Roots of Empathy

excel donationKids Can Fly was honoured to receives a cash donation of $1500 from the employees of Excel Brantford to support the Roots of Empathy Program. A committee under the leadership of Randy Giles made and sold PINK T SHIRTS to raise the funds. In photo: Randy Giles, Ken Arsenault, Linda Goulden, Don Wright, Sharon Brooks from Kids Can Fly, Sherri Stringer, Cathy Agnew and Sue Beland. Roots of Empathy is a program delivered in elementary school classrooms that teaches emotional literacy and reduces aggression and bullying while increasing tolerance and understanding. Part of the success of the program is a baby that visits the classroom monthly with their parent. Kids Can Fly is most grateful to the Excel employees for taking on this fundraiser on our behalf. www.kidscanfly.ca www.rootsofempathy.org

Babies help pupils learn empathy

Mar 4, 2012 | Roots of Empathy

A class of Grade 4 students at George Webster Elementary watch eight-month-old Patrick, who sits on a green blanket in the middle of their circle.

His tiny white shirt says “teacher” and it’s no joke.

Patrick is a teacher with Roots of Empathy, which began in Toronto in 1996, and pairs volunteer parents and their young children with classrooms. It’s more than a preventive bullying program, according to founder Mary Gordon. Through learning about a baby, elementary school students become more empathetic, reducing bullying and aggression, she says.

Read the rest of the story here

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/babies-help-pupils-learn-empathy/article2353260/?utm_medium=Feeds%3A%20RSS%2FAtom&utm_source=Home&utm_content=2353260

Reducing Aggression in Schools with Roots of Empathy

Mar 4, 2012 | Roots of Empathy

Roots of Empathy is coming into its own. At a time when stories of marginalization, aggression and bullying abound, educators are recognizing that Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is as important to the success of their students, as the traditional three Rs. Indeed, SEL abilities, such as empathy, are now being considered essential 21st century skills in our rapidly changing world.

Started in 1996, Roots of Empathy is an evidence-based classroom program that has shown significant effect in reducing levels of aggression among schoolchildren while raising social/emotional competence and increasing empathy. At the heart of the program are a neighbourhood infant and parent who engage students in their classroom.  Over the school year, a trained Roots of Empathy Instructor guides the children as they observe the relationship between baby and parent, understanding the baby’s intentions and emotions. Through this model of experiential learning, the baby is the “Teacher” and a catalyst, helping children identify and reflect on their own feelings and the feelings of others.

Research results from national and international evaluations of the Roots of Empathy program indicate decreases in aggression and increases in prosocial behaviour. According to a recent study from British Columbia1:

 

·         Teachers reported a significant decrease in aggressive behavior by students in Roots of Empathy programs, in contrast to an increase in such behavior by members of the control group over the same period.

·         Children who completed Roots of Empathy were much more likely to report prosocial behavior in their classroom peers, recognizing acts of kindness such as sharing, helping and understanding.

·         Roots of Empathy participants significantly improved in their ability to understand the baby’s emotions, independently generating possible causes for the baby’s crying.
As well, the Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences at the University of Washington, in Seattle, USA, will evaluate brain and behavioural development in 5-year-olds in the Seeds of Empathy program and 9-year-olds in the Roots of Empathy program. This study will begin in the spring of 2012, expanding to include a pre-post behavioural evaluation design for fall 2012 and spring 2013, with results expected in late 2013. Neurophysiological evaluations will entail investigation of structural (MRI) and functional (MEG brain imaging) changes associated with participation in the programs.

Recognition for the tangible, quantifiable results of Roots of Empathy is also growing. At the Clinton Global Initiative Meeting in New York in September 2011, the NoVo Foundation, promoter of societal transformation, launched its Social and Emotional Learning Action Network White Paper, which cites Roots of Empathy as “one of the finest evidence-based programs … of emotional literacy, using a well-tested, research-based curriculum to support student observations and interactions that lead to an increase in empathy and pro-sociability, as well as a decrease in aggression, bullying and negative behaviour…2

Additionally, in mid-October, The Ernest C. Manning Awards Foundation, which has been encouraging Canadian innovation for over 25 years, will honour Mary Gordon, President and Founder of Roots of Empathy, with one of its prestigious awards, once again acknowledging the impact that this Canadian-born initiative has had internationally. Embraced by English, French and Aboriginal communities in every province in Canada, Roots of Empathy has been adopted on three continents, and continues to expand, earning the moniker “Canada’s olive branch to the world.”

 

1 Schonert-Reichl, K. A., Smith, V., Anat Zaidman-Zait, A., & Hertzman, C. (2011) Promoting Children’s Prosocial Behaviours in School: Impact of the “Roots of Empathy” Program on the Social and Emotional Competence of School-Aged Children.

2 Sherman, Robert F., for the NoVo Foundation (2011) Social and Emotional Learning Action Network White Paper, Version 1.0 present at CGI Annual Meeting, September 21, 2011.