Five Ways to Develop Empathy in Kids

In the age of ‘me, myself, and I,’ it is crucial for children to understand empathy. Here are five ways you can develop empathy in your kids.

Recently, there has been an increase in low levels of empathy among children. And it got me thinking about what we can do to ensure kids develop empathy.

Empathy is the ability to emotionally understand what other people feel, see things from their point of view, and imagine yourself in their place.

You may have come across tips that focus on increasing emotional literacy by helping kids understand their emotions and the emotions of those around them. Other tips involve teaching kids to be more generous by engaging them in activities encouraging generosity.

Today, I want to share five ways to help encourage children to develop empathy and generosity toward others.

1. Empathise with your child.

To teach children empathy, you must show them what empathy truly means. You can do this by making it a part of your daily routine.

For example, if you’re walking and pass a dog barking loudly, offer to hold your child’s hand and explain that while some things can be scary, you are there for them.

2. Talk about others’ feelings.

It is easy for children to believe everyone is feeling what they are feeling. They have an emotional innocence about them where they think that because they are happy, everyone else is happy too.

You need to tell them that people have their feelings and that we need to understand how other people feel.

3. Be a role model.

Your child learns from your example when you have solid and respectful relationships and interact with others in a kind and caring way.

Children learn best by watching – so how you act and react in situations is what they will learn and follow.

4. Validate your child’s difficult emotions.

No one likes to see their child in pain or hurting, so when they are experiencing difficult emotions like anger, disappointment, or sadness, we often try to fix them immediately.

However, they must learn to cope with these difficult emotions. Labelling and validating emotions helps children learn to handle their feelings and empathise with others experiencing difficult feelings.

5. Be patient.

Lastly, have the utmost amount of patience because developing empathy takes time. Remember, empathy is a complex skill and will continue to evolve as your child grows.

Strong empathy skills can set children up for success in life. And it’s up to us to show them how they can empathise with those around them.

If you, a friend, or a family member, are facing any struggles or looking for assistance to understand your problems better, feel free to ask me your questions here – https://bit.ly/3uFL7Yf.