Resources

Roots and Seeds of Empathy

Roots of Empathy

Roots of Empathy (ROE) is an evidence-based classroom program for students age five to fourteen years aimed at reducing childhood aggression, bullying and violence in schools and communities.

The ROE program is designed to:

  • Promote empathy and compassion,
  • Reduce aggression and bullying,
  • Teach emotional literacy, and
  • Promote community involvement in schools with the participation of volunteer families and facilitators from outside the school.

With funding from the Ministries of Children and Family Development and Education, Roots of Empathy was implemented in 360 classrooms in BC during the 2011/12 school year. Visit the Roots of Empathy website for more information on the program.

Seeds of Empathy

Seeds of Empathy (SOE) is a program designed to develop social and emotional literacy in children ages three to five, and is based on its “parent” program, Roots of Empathy. SOE fosters the development of social and emotional competence, supports early literacy, and reduces childhood aggression, bullying and violence in schools and communities.

The SOE program has two main elements:

  1. Family Visits - family visits bring a parent and baby from the community into the child care or preschool setting where a family guide encourages the children to observe the baby’s development, label the baby’s feelings, and talk about their own feelings and those of others.
  2. Literacy Circles - literacy circles are designed around a set of children’s literature, with a literacy coach reading to the children and using stories to help the children explore their own feelings as well as the perspective of others.

For more information please visit the Seeds of Empathy program website.