Babies to “teach” in Inishowen schools

Babies aged from three to six months are to attend a number of national schools in Inishowen later this year in an initiative aimed at reducing bullying. In doing so, the infants will become the first in Ireland to participate in the internationally-acclaimed “Roots of Empathy” programme. In all, ten schools in Donegal and 20 in Northern Ireland, will participate in the programme but the Inish Times has learned a number of these will be from Inishowen. The HSE’s Health Promotion Department in Letterkenny will deliver the programme, with support from Donegal County Council, and the project will be supported by the Peace III Programme, managed for the Special EU Programme Board by Donegal County Council. The “Roots of Empathy” programme has been running extensively with great success in Canada for many years, and is also part of primary school life in parts of New Zealand, USA and in the Isle of Man. In the programme, a local parent and baby (who is three to six months old at the start of the school year) will visit a classroom nine times over the school year. Trained “Roots Of Empathy” instructors will guide the pupils at the schools as they observe the relationship between the baby and parent. The instructors will also visit the classroom before and after each baby visit to reinforce learning. Anne McAteer, Health Promotion Department, HSE West, said: “We are delighted to be able to introduce this programme in Donegal, with the support of Donegal County Council. We are convinced that this is a step in the right direction in terms of creating safer, more co-operative classrooms, playgrounds and communities for our children. Research clearly shows the programme has a lasting impact in terms of reducing aggressive and bullying behaviour.” She added: “In this innovative programme, the baby is the teacher! The attachment relationship between a baby and a parent is an ideal model of empathy. Children learn to understand the perspective and emotional life of the baby and are then guided by the instructor to link this learning to their own lives. They gain deeper insight into their own and others’ emotions and into the impact of their behaviour on others. Research has shown that this learning enables children to become much more socially and emotionally competent and much more likely to challenge cruelty and injustice. “Extensive and independent evaluations consistently show children who receive the ‘Roots Of Empathy’ programme experience dramatic and lasting effects in terms of increased positive social behaviour (sharing, helping, including others) and decreased aggression and bullying.” Mums and dads whose children are between three months and six months old in October next are invited to volunteer. Ms. McAteer added: “The commitment would be to visit a local primary school classroom for 30 minutes, once every three weeks from October 2010 to June 2011. Full support will be provided by a certified instructor.” If you think you might be interested, contact John McFall, HSE Health Promotion Department, on 9178540 or email john.mcfall@hse.ie.