Roots of Empathy @RootsofEmpathy

Some Roots of Empathy stories stay with you forever. Years after teaching her last Roots of Empathy class, former Instructor Jen Mulqueen is helping bring the program to television as part of an upcoming TVO documentary. Jen spent eight years as a Roots of Empathy Instructor, working alongside seven ‘Tiny Teachers’ and their families. She saw firsthand how empathy transforms not only students, but also parents, schools, friendships, and communities. "When I began teaching Roots of Empathy, I never imagined how much it would shape me as a parent, friend, and community member. The impact lasts far beyond the classroom." We're honoured that someone who knows the program so deeply continues to champion its importance and help share its story with a wider audience. Thank you to Jen and the film crew. Read her story: rootsofempathy.org/jen-mulqueen-e…

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Attention families in #Gander #NewfoundlandLabrador! Will you have a baby aged 2-4 months in October? Your family could make a lasting difference in the lives of children in your community! Roots of Empathy is centred around your baby becoming the ‘Tiny Teacher’ in a classroom. Volunteer Parents bring their babies into a classroom, and guided by a Roots of Empathy Instructor, the children are encouraged to read your baby’s emotional cues and take your baby’s perspective, which can lead to the development of prosocial skills such as empathy and inclusion. Contact: Claudia Long at [email protected] or 709-351-4051 @SPICardinals @NLSchoolsCA

Another year of empathy in ALCDSB schools 💚 Thank you to the families, "Tiny Teachers", and Instructors who gave their time and opened their hearts to classrooms this year — this celebration is for you. And a special thank you to Elisa Palmer, Mental Health Supervisor with the board, for supporting Roots of Empathy every step of the way.

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What a celebration, North Bay! 🎉 A heartfelt thank you to the ROE Instructors, volunteer families, host teachers and our "Tiny Teachers" who made this year's programs possible. We were honoured to welcome Deputy Mayor Maggie Horsefield to the celebration. Thank you to North Bay MP Pauline Rochefort for marking the occasion with a certificate of recognition celebrating 30 years of Roots of Empathy. Thirty years in, and the community around Roots of Empathy keeps growing 💚

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Celebrating the incredible ‘Tiny Teachers’ of Newfoundland and Labrador 💚 As another year of Roots of Empathy comes to a close, we’re so grateful to our dedicated ROE Instructors, volunteer parents, and everyone who helped make our programs possible. A special thank you to our supporting agency representatives who could celebrate with us, including the Dept of Education, Assistant Deputy Minister Lisa Baker Worthman, Dept of Health and CS, Mental Health and Addictions, Pauline Penney, NL NDP Leader Jim Dinn, NLTA President Dale Lambe, Sisters of Mercy, Presentation Sisters, and Child and Youth Advocate, Wilma MacInnis. @nlschoolsca @EDU_GovNL @HCS_GovNL @NLTeachersAssoc @UnitedWayNL International Grenfell Association

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This Father’s Day, We’re Reflecting on What Children Teach At Roots of Empathy, children learn from babies – ‘Tiny Teachers’. And fathers learn from children. 🎥 Byron, a father, grandfather, Roots of Empathy Instructor and School Counsellor, reflects on: "How has being a father changed you?" For 30 years, Roots of Empathy volunteer parents and Instructors have helped nurture empathy and emotional literacy in children—the pathway to healthy relationships, mental wellbeing, and caring communities. #RootsofEmpathy #HappyFathersDay

Father Roots of Empathy Volunteer Parent Roots of Empathy Instructor School Counsellor Different journeys. Shared values. 🔹 Empathy 🔹 Caring 🔹 Kindness 🔹 Listening 🔹 Respect 🔹 Inclusion 🎥 Danny reflects on: “How has becoming a father changed you?” For 30 years, Roots of Empathy volunteer parents and Instructors have helped nurture empathy and emotional literacy in children—the pathway to healthy relationships, mental wellbeing, and caring communities. #RootsofEmpathy #FathersDay

This Father's Day, we're celebrating the fathers who help bring Roots of Empathy to life. 🎥 In this video, volunteer parent Mitchell shares baby Ellie's story and reflects on the students' reaction to her visits in the classroom. For 30 years, Roots of Empathy volunteer parents and Instructors have helped nurture empathy and emotional literacy in children—the pathway to healthy relationships, mental wellbeing, and caring communities. #RootsofEmpathy #FathersDay

A Father's Greatest Legacy 🔹 Empathy 🔹 Caring 🔹 Kindness 🔹 Listening 🔹 Respect 🔹 Inclusion 🎥 A Father's Perspective: Why do children need to see fathers demonstrate empathy and attunement? This Father's Day, we're celebrating the fathers and male Roots of Empathy role models - Our Volunteer Fathers and Instructors - who are helping nurture empathy in the next generation. Together, we're nurturing a more empathic world—child by child.

🎥 Something exciting is happening at Roots of Empathy! Recently, cameras rolled inside a Grade 2/3 split class at Market Lane Public School as filming began for an upcoming TVO documentary exploring how schools are helping children navigate today's digital world. When searching for solutions that help children develop the human skills screens can't teach, Roots of Empathy was a natural fit. A huge thank you to the students, host teacher Victoria, Instructor Jemma, and our incredible volunteer family—Katherine and baby Josephine—for opening their classroom to help share how the Roots of Empathy program fosters empathy in children - the foundation of being able to relate to one another and make the friendships necessary for wellbeing and mental health. The students were thrilled to be part of the filming, and we can't wait to see empathy take centre stage when the documentary airs this fall.

What a truly magical moment at our final family visit when our tiny teacher Reo crawled for the first time! Thank you mummy Hannah for sharing this precious milestone with us all! We have loved watching your baby boy grow over the last 10 months 💚@RootsofEmpathy

Attention families! Will you have a baby aged 2-4 months in October? Your family could make a lasting difference in the lives of children in your community! Roots of Empathy is centred around your baby becoming the ‘Tiny Teacher’ in a classroom. Volunteer Parents bring their babies into a classroom, and guided by a Roots of Empathy Instructor, the children are encouraged to read your baby’s emotional cues and take your baby’s perspective, which can lead to the development of prosocial skills such as empathy and inclusion. To sign up, visit: rootsofempathy.org/family/

Celebrating #PrideMonth with solidarity for all in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community! #Pride2026

June is National Indigenous History Month in Canada—a time to recognize the rich history, cultures, and contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. It's an opportunity to listen, learn, and honour Indigenous voices, past and present, while nurturing the voices of the future. #NationalIndigenousHistoryMonth #NIHM2026

The most important learning happens before a child starts school 💜 Seeds of Empathy is a program that nurtures social and emotional competencies and provides children with rich early literacy experiences. Created by Mary Gordon in 2005 for Early Learning and Childcare Centres, Seeds of Empathy is one of two programs endorsed by the Assembly of First Nations Resolution 38, along with Roots of Empathy. Both programs support the worldview and values of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit children in urban, rural, and on-reserve communities. To learn more about the program, visit; rootsofempathy.org/seeds-of-empat…

Want to help nurture empathy in children in one of your local schools? 💚 We're on the lookout for passionate Volunteer Instructors for the upcoming school year. Roots of Empathy is an international children’s charity that helps nurture empathy in children. We’ve reached 1.2 million children so far. We do this through our unique programs that are offered in schools internationally. To learn more and sign up: rootsofempathy.org/instructors/ #RootsofEmpathy #VolunteersNeeded

What makes Roots of Empathy so unique? It’s all about the secure attachment relationship between a baby and parent(s) - the first and most powerful model of empathy. Throughout the school year, a local parent and baby visit a 9 times while the other 18 classes are about prediction and reflection on various themes. With the help of a certified Roots of Empathy Instructor and a proven curriculum, studentsare guided to recognize the baby’s feelings and intentions. They start learning: ❤️ The affective aspect of empathy – understanding feelings 🧠 The cognitive aspect of empathy – perspective taking Students are coached to recognize the baby’s feelings, their own feelings and the feelings of their classmates. That’s emotional literacy in action - and it’s the first step to learning how to regulate emotions. Curious to learn more? Visit our website: rootsofempathy.org

"We are born with the capacity for empathy. An ability to recognize emotions transcends race, culture, nationality, social class and age.” - Mary Gordon Let's embrace our innate capacity for empathy and build a more caring and peaceful world together. Interested in getting involved? Learn more about our volunteer opportunities: rootsofempathy.org/volunteer/ #RootsofEmpathy #WisdomWednesday #EmpathyMatters

🌍 Where is Mary? Our Founder Mary Gordon, will be speaking and participating as a thought leader at the MenCare Changemaker Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on May 29! Co-organized by Equimundo: Center for Masculinities and Social Justice and WOW – Women of the World, this global summit convenes leaders from business, media, culture, civil society, and government to build solutions around fatherhood, men's health, and new models of masculinity rooted in care, responsibility, and connection. For 30 years, Roots of Empathy has seen what can happen when empathy is nurtured early in life. We’re proud to contribute to global conversations about raising caring boys, supporting positive relationships, and nurturing the fathers and caring citizens of tomorrow for the future.

Turns out, some of the biggest lessons come from the smallest humans 💚 In Roots of Empathy classrooms, students explore feelings, friendships, and human connection through real-life experiences with a baby and parent in the classroom. The result? Increased emotional literacy, stronger perspective-taking skills, and classroom environments that support positive attitudes and interactions 🌱 Interested in bringing Roots of Empathy to your school? Sign up now: rootsofempathy.org/school/