Children learning empathy following baby’s milestones

Children learning empathy following baby’s milestones

20 June 2018

AN innovative baby-led project which helps teach children empathy has been celebrated at Millennium Integrated Primary School, near Saintfield.

Baby Zenan Watson was honoured this month at an event marking the successful completion of the Roots of Empathy programme in the school.

With his mum, Naomi, he has been teaching a group of P5 children important lessons about expressing feelings, respect, inclusion, infant development and safety — and the power of a loving bond between parent and child.

First visiting the school at the age of three months, Zenan’s big milestones, such as learning to crawl, were witnessed by the fascinated children in monthly visits. Now 11 months old, his work is done and the whole school gathered together for a special celebration to say goodbye.

This involved the P5 pupils, who received certificates, their parents, their class teacher, Mrs Rachel Bolingbroke, teaching assistant Thomas McKibben and Roots of Empathy instructor Wendy Ballard.

The school principal, Mr Barry Corrigan, was also in attendance at the event which recognised many people in the school and in the wider community who contributed to its success.

Roots of Empathy is a charity and classroom programme that reduces levels of aggression among school children while raising social and emotional competence and increasing empathy. This is the second year of the programme at Millennium Integrated and is one of two running at the school.

At the heart of the project is a neighbourhood infant and parent who visit the classroom with a certified instructor nine times over the school year.

The instructor coaches the students to observe the baby’s development, celebrate milestones, interact with the baby and learn about the infant’s needs and unique temperament.

The instructor also visits the class before and after each visit to prepare and reinforce teachings.

Mrs Watson said she took part after hearing about the opportunity from a friend.

“It was amazing, the children were so lovely,” she said.

“The children were a credit to Millennium Integrated. When Zenan started to do new things I loved to watch their reactions. They referred to him as ‘their baby’.

“When he started to crawl, and just took off, their wee faces were just priceless. Similarly, when he pulled himself up on to a seat. 

“Originally I thought it was the girls who would be more interested but it was the boys who were more excited at the start.”

Mrs Watson said Zenan took the attention of a classroom of children very much in his stride.

“He was such a laid back baby,” she said. “I think he helped the children realise that it doesn’t matter how long it takes to do something, as long as you get there in the end.

“Roots of Empathy was a really nice opportunity and I’m gutted I won’t be going to school any more with Zenan.”