WAYS TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF EMPATHY IN OUR CHILDREN

Empathy means identifying and understanding others’ feelings in order to understand and get along better with other people. You can help support your child’s learning and use of empathy by helping them:

-identify their own and others' feelings by looking for clues in the face, voice, and body. Help your child by noticing other’s expression or recognizing their own feelings. When your child is showing a feeling, help them to give the feeling a name. Notice is such a good word to use in this area. Use statements like, “I notice that you’re frowning; how are you feeling.”

-recognize that people may react differently to different situations. Help your child practice with statements like, “You like to play of the jungle gym, but it scares your friend. I wonder what we can do about that?”

-predict feelings. You might use statements like, “I wonder how Mary will feel about not being able to stay for dinner?” When reading a book, talk about the characters' feelings and predict times you and your child might feel the same way.

-communicate feelings. Help your child by sharing your own feelings, “I feel very happy that you’re having so much fun playing soccer.” Play "I feel__ when ____ by filling in the spaces with different feelings and situations. ("I feel scared when I get lost in a store.")

-accept differences in others. Statements like, “It is OK for your friends to be different from you. What are some of the ways you two are alike?”

By listening to and talking about feelings, you will be helping your child to feel valued and to be more understanding of others. I hope that you have time to work on these skills at home. If you have any questions please leave a message for David at 752-5651 ext. 405.

Source: Second Step: a violence-prevention curriculum