In asking the baby’s permission, we are modeling respect – even a little baby has the right to say no. At the same time, we are offering the students the opportunity to learn to read baby’s cues. The baby cannot say ‘no’ in words, but tone of voice, body language, eye contact with the parent, turning away from the Instructor, or even an anxious or upset emotion indicates the baby is saying no. Many children have trouble with friendships and relationships because they are not able to read the ‘cues’ of others. In the Roots of Empathy program, children are guided in reading the subtle cues of the baby when we ask permission, providing them with an opportunity to develop these skills.