Empathy is a key part of socialising and communicating with others. It’s an important lesson to explore with children and that you should be patient with as it’s not something that’s easily picked up. They can have a hard time reading body language and understanding why we feel the way we do. You can help by pointing them out when you see them around you which will build familiarity, as well as demonstrating empathy and understanding. You can learn more about teaching children empathy below, in the guidance that was shared with us by a private school in Surrey.
Emotional Intelligence
As they grow up, they will begin to experience different emotions. Feelings of jealousy that come with sibling rivalry, anger, sadness, and joy. They are uniquely different from one another and capturing what each feels like with your child can help them in developing emotional intelligence. It will give them an idea as to how others feel, allowing them to understand and empathise.
Examples of How to Show Empathy
What you can also do is train them on how to show empathy and support. When they’re in social situations, like on a playdate for example, you can guide them on how to be a good friend. That might be to encourage them to share their toys, offer a hug and be mindful of how they interact with others if they are sad.
Be a Good Role Model
Children pick up on what they see, so being empathetic towards those around you and being a compassionate person, you can teach your child to do the same. You can do that by making sure to be a good friend to those around you, by asking them about how they’re feeling and offering moral support.
We hope that this post was insightful and that you enjoyed reading!
I am a very empathetic person and thankfully my children have picked up on this and I am hoping they are simliar to me. It’s a very good trait to teach them.
A vital skill for all
Teaching children early is so worthwhile