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Empathy Fuels Caring and Connected Fatherhood This Father’s Day, we celebrate the powerful role fathers and father figures play in modelling and shaping the emotional wellbeing and mental health of children. Research compiled by the Public Health Agency* of Canada shows that positive father involvement improves cognitive, emotional, social, and physical outcomes for children—from reduced depression and greater independence to improved sleep and stronger family bonds. Fathers benefit, too: fatherhood deepens connection, improves health, and brings a renewed sense of purpose and meaning. At Roots of Empathy, we know these outcomes begin early—and that classrooms can be powerful spaces to grow them. Our school-based program nurtures empathy, emotional literacy, and responsive parenting in children. Key experiences and takeaways include: - Observing a baby-parent relationship (often with a father) during classroom visits. Children see the secure attachment relationship where the baby checks in with the parent through eye contact and touch. When the parent responds back with eye contact or touch, the child is ready for more adventure.
- Recognizing this early bond as the foundation of emotional safety and empathy.
- Backed by science and lived experience: the attachment of the baby and parent is where empathy begins.
Through the program, students also: - Understand that babies cry for emotional, not just physical, reasons. “A crying baby is not a bad baby, but a baby with a problem.”
- Learn about how to keep a baby safe even when frustrated - “Never shake a baby”.
- Are introduced to developmental milestones and the idea of “not yet”—helping children see the unique timetable for growth and learning. Childhood should not be a race but a feast.
- Begin to understand empathic parenting and empathic listening.
- Are exposed to positive models of masculinity and fatherhood.
- Bully less and are less aggressive as a result of increased empathy.
- Demonstrate increased behaviours like kindness, sharing, helping, and including.
Children in Roots of Empathy enjoy a year-long experience with a loving relationship between a parent and a baby, laying down tracks in their brain for what empathic parenting looks like. On Father’s Day, we celebrate not only the dad and male role models in our classrooms, but also the men and dads that these students will become. Happy Father's Day, Mary Gordon Founder/President/CEO |
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