On June 1
5th the tiny teachers – our Roots of Empathy babies, gathered for a year end celebration. It is always a delight to observe how they interact with each other. Babies LOVE other babies so a fun time is guaranteed. Moms, grammas and dads joined Jane Flinders for a music time and then enjoyed cake and took home a small gift of thanks from Kids Can Fly for participating. Roots of Empathy runs from October until June in local elementary school classes. A trained instructor teams up with a mom and young infant and they visit the school over 9 months. In addition to learning about child development as their baby grows – the class experiences a curriculum that encourages tolerance and understanding of others.
Research shows an 88% reduc
tion of aggression among children who participate and an increase of pro social behaviours. The impact of the program appears to be lasting as well. Kids Can Fly is proud to have hosted Roots of Empathy in local schools since 2003 but could not provide it without our wonderful volunteer families and dedicated volunteer instructors. www.rootsofempathy.org We are currently looking for families to volunteer with summer born babies for this coming fall. To learn more go to info@kidscanfly.ca” Sharon Brooks – Executive Director, Kids Can Fly