Baby teachers on the honour roll

Oh baby! Some of Ireland’s littlest teachers and volunteers have been honoured for their roles in the classroom.

Throughout the school year, these babies and their parents have been visiting local primary schools across Cork as part of a Barnardos programme to teach school children important lessons about expressing feelings, respect, inclusion, infant development and safety, and the power of a loving bond between parent and child.

The programme, called Roots of Empathy, is a primary school classroom programme that aims to reduce levels of aggression among students, while raising their social and emotional competence and increasing their empathy.

Roots of Empathy Coordinator for Cork & Waterford, Diane Mackin said: “Roots of Empathy really is such a wonderful programme for baby and mum, but also for the students in each class. The programme provides young people with important lessons around expressing their feelings and having empathy for others, both of which are important for a happy and healthy life.

“Our little teachers also benefit greatly from interacting with older children and this is reflected in their own development throughout the programme. With the new school year fast approaching we’re always on the lookout for new volunteers so get in touch if you would like to get involved with your little one!”

At the heart of the programme are a neighbourhood baby and parent, who visit the classroom every three weeks over the school year. Over the course of the year, a trained Roots of Empathy instructor leads the pupils in noticing how the baby is growing and changing. The children also watch the loving relationship between the parent and baby, seeing how the parent responds to the baby’s emotions and meets the baby’s needs.