The three Fifth Classes in St Oliver’s National School are wrapping up the Roots of Empathy programme this week.

The children have been working with their ‘Tiny Teacher Babies’ since last Autumn on this emotional literacy programme.

Once a month the baby visits the classroom with their parent and teaches the children about attachment and emotions as they all sit around the green blanket.

Roots of Empathy was originally introduced to Killarney by Lotte Lyne via the Stephan Lyne Foundation that she set up in memory of her son.

“The students of St Oliver’s are lucky to benefit from this Canadian programme that research has shown reduces aggressive behaviour amongst school children,” the school’s Neasa Ní Lionáird. “The baby is a vehicle to introduce the language of emotional literacy to the children. The programme tackles challenging themes such as responsible parenting and the risks to babies of passive smoking. St Oliver’s are very grateful to their three ‘Tiny Teachers Babies’, Ayla, Blake and Lorcan and their families who gave generously of their time to visit classrooms nine times over the school year.”