Teaching Empathy To Children: 5 Tips From A Child Care Expert

Creating a culture of compassion is harder than ever yet more necessary. 

Empathy is the ability to truly show compassion, understand another person's experience, and walk in someone else's shoes. The ability to show empathy is a life skill that can be taught at any age: And the outcomes are abundantly beneficial. For example, empathetic children are less likely to bully others. Or research shows that leaders who listen to and try to understand their employees' emotions are more successful. In addition, the lack of emotional intelligence can limit your success in the workplace. 

And in a world that feels distant, small acts of kindness can bring us closer. Demonstrating to children how to be compassionate is a life lesson we all need them to learn. Consider small acts of kindness you can do together. For example, is there an older neighbor who needs her walk shoveled? Is there a toy you could purchase together to give to a child in need? Empathy helps children feel connected and helps to develop their character and social-emotional growth.

As the most important role model in a child's life, parents can strive to model emotional intelligence at home. Our homes should be the "safe place to fall" for every member. It is where we can each come, at the end of a long, stressful day, and be ourselves. We are loved unconditionally, and we, in turn, value and love others. With this supportive foundation, our children can go to school, sports fields, theater stages, and online chat rooms and be an emotional support to others. Not to mention the ability to empathize is more important now than ever, as social distancing may have added another effect on our population: the opportunity to conduct less-than-positive interactions behind screens. 

Teaching empathy must involve not only fostering a community but also coaching children individually. Help guide your child toward a greater understanding of what kind and empathetic behavior looks like: