The ‘tiny teachers’ have been visiting classrooms as part of the The Roots of Empathy programme.
And the response from pupils at Whithorn and Belmont primaries has been fantastic.
Baby Cormac and Baby Chloe have played a big part in helping children at both these schools better understand emotions. During the school year, the mums, Naoise Douglas from Glenluce and Nicole McIlwraith from Whithorn and babies have visited the schools a number of times, giving pupils the chance to watch the babies grow and form a bond.
The programme is made up of nine visits over the school year and the children observe the loving parent-child relationship, and grow to understand the baby’s intentions and emotions.
There are also activities designed to help pupils to identify and understand their own feelings and the feelings of others, what makes them unique and how to care for the baby safely.
Backing the scheme, Councillor Jeff Leaver said: “Children have clearly benefitted from this innovative programme. Our council will continue to support and operate programmes that encourage parent and community participation into school.”
Paul Carberry, from Action for Children Scotland who operate the programme, said: “Over 19,000 children, from the Western Isles to the Borders, have benefitted from Roots of Empathy since we first brought it to Scotland in 2010. The classroom visits by the baby and parent are at the heart of Roots of Empathy, helping school children to better understand their own feelings and the feelings of others around them.”
Picture posed by model
