​Tiny Teacher Reed helps Hendredenny pupils learn about their feelings

They may be the tiniest teachers in Caerphilly County Borough schools’ system, but the impact they are making in young students’ lives is huge.

Babies and their mums are visiting primary schools in Caerphilly County Borough bringing the Roots of Empathy program to primary pupils with the idea that they, in turn, will become more empathic, caring people because of it.

Hendredenny Primary is one of the Caerphilly County Borough schools taking part in the programme and they were recently visited by Lynne Neagle, Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing to see first-hand the impact of the Roots of Empathy when their tiny teacher, 9-month-old Baby Reed and mum Danielle Chapron-Rielly visited a Year 2 class recently.

Research shows that Roots of Empathy raises levels of empathy amongst the school children, increasing caring, kindness and inclusion and results in reduced problem behaviour in the classroom.

“It was fantastic to be joined by the Deputy Minister for Health and Wellbeing for a Roots of Empathy family visit.

It has been a while since we were able to visit a classroom and the children and staff of Hendredenny Park School made us feel so welcome. It was a joy to see them learning about emotions from their ‘Tiny Teacher’ around the green blanket.

The timing was great with it being Mental Health Awareness week we want to highlight, that children understanding their emotions and the feelings of others can help to be a protective factor and support good mental health and wellbeing.” Katie Cohen UK Manager Roots of Empathy.

“Through this program, pupils can better identify their own emotions by learning the emotions displayed by baby Reed.

As well as developing skills to form relationships with others, pupils experience the loving relationship between parent and baby. They explore the importance of attachment, what it is and how it affects brain development as the baby grows.  Providing this parent role model helps our pupils to understand the roles and responsibilities of parenting, preparing them to be parents of the future.”  said Carrie Smith, Roots of Empathy Instructor.

While students benefit from the programme, mums and babies do too.

Mum Danielle said participating in the programme, helped her to be more in tune with her baby. “And it made my son more social, too,” she said.

“As a parent, it gave me confidence having to answer all the pupils’ questions about my baby. It’s great seeing him through the children’s eyes, watching him develop.”