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Brighter Futures Indiana (2021) Activities for developing skills in Empathy. Early Learning Indiana 

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Brighter Futures Indiana (2021) Activities for developing skills in Empathy. Early Learning Indiana 

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A helpful resource explaining different activities and strategies that help teach empathy to preschool children.

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Developing the ability to feel empathy for others is a normal part of emotional development. According to psychologist Paul Ekman, there are three main ways we can empathize with others: cognitive empathy, or the ability to understand the feelings of others; emotional empathy, or the ability to feel what others are feeling; and compassionate empathy, or understanding and feeling what others are feeling with the addition of feeling moved to help.

Your child's empathy skills will guide them through their journey to making friends and getting along with others. And with your help, they will have the strong empathy foundations to express themselves in ways that are respectful of others.

Below are ten ways you can help nurture your child's empathy skills.

The best way to teach empathy is to show empathy for others. Your child pays attention to how you act and speak. Are you kind and respectful towards others? Also, don't forget to show empathy for your little learner. If they are having a rough day or experiencing frustration, say "Are you feeling frustrated? I know it is frustrating to not be able to eat all the gummy worms you want. We will have a yummy dinner that is better than gummy worms." Remember, love and affection help your little one thrive.

2. Talk about other people's feelings

Books can be a great way to explore what other people are like, and what others feel when they experience hardship. But sometimes those lessons come naturally in life when things happen to those around us. Having a developmentally appropriate conversation can be as simple as describing the feeling taking place. "Mom is sad because she lost her book" or "Grandpa is not feeling excited about going out because he is tired." As your child learns to navigate social situations, you can say "Tony is crying because he is sad you took his toy. Let's be gentle and ask if we can borrow it."
Click here for great books about feeling grumpy compiled by the Brighter Reader Book Crew.

3. Read stories about feelings

Great stories do more than build word skills. They build feelings skills too. Knowing the right words to describe feelings can help your child understand themselves and others too. Here are some suggestions for some great reads about feelings:

4. Express self-awareness

Use words to describe your comfort or feelings about your interactions: "I like it when we hug. It makes me happy." Or "I don't like it when you kick me, it hurts." Speaking about your own experiences shows your little learner their actions can have good and bad effects on others.

5. Think beyond saying the right words

Tony is crying because your little one took their toy. But asking your child to say "I'm sorry" will not soothe Tony or be helpful for your child in future interactions. Children learn the meaning of what "I'm sorry" means through learning about the feelings of others.

Raising Little Citizens of the World: Raising a socially connected child that understands the world around them.

6. Show examples through pretend play

Talk about feelings and empathy with toddlers when you play together. If Mr. Rat hits Puppy on the head, ask "How do you think Puppy feels?" or "Do you think Mr. Rat can be more gentle next time?" If you need ideas for more elaborate play and scenarios, borrow from characters and stories in books that deal with these topics. And remember: don't be afraid to play along!

7. Be kind and patient

Little ones are still learning and they won't get it right every time. In fact, there are many teenagers and adults that also struggle with practicing empathy and kindness. You are your child's first and best teacher! Remember that challenging behaviors give you a chance to build connections and skills.
When toddler meltdowns happen:

Let them know their feelings matter

Help them calm down

Share skills: "You seem very upset. Let's take deep breaths together."

Know that every person raising children has been there at some point - it's part of helping them grow up.

8. Get a family pet

Helping our furry family members meet their needs, like eating, drinking water or going outdoors, helps us think about their needs. And according to research, thinking about those needs comes with big lessons for little ones. Children can learn about responsibility, self-esteem, how to read emotions, and most importantly to express their own.

9. Talk about your own feelings

Describing your own feelings lets little learners know that everyone has feelings - including the adults in their lives. If you are having a hard day, express your feelings. Your ability to connect words with feelings can teach your little one to do the same, in addition to showing it is safe to have those conversations at home.

Add these stress-busting strategies to your parenting toolbox!

10. Provide healthy ways to express feelings

Exposure to the arts can have great benefits in the emotional lives of people big and small. According to research, artistic expression can help people work through difficult emotions, including trauma. Other benefits of art-making include building critical thinking skills, problem-solving skills, and communication skills. Additionally, art gives little ones a means to express any kind of feeling, which can increase a child's sense of self-confidence and self-efficacy.
Try these ideas:
Do you have your own tips for building empathy skills with little learners? Share in the comments.
Sources:

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Activities for Developing Skills in Empathy

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May 10, 2021 Activities Developing Skills in (Empathy) From the moment you saw your baby's first smile, you've continued to see their emotional world grow every day. Now you can identify more of their feelings: you can tell when they are frustrated and when they are scared. You join them in their...

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Newson, K (2019) The Same But Different Too NOSY 

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Newson, K (2019) The Same But Different Too NOSY 

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A Children's storybook celebrating differences between animals and a small girl, they soon realize that although they are uniquely different they all enjoy a good story!

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Karl Newson is a best-selling, multi-award-winning children's book author, whose stories are published in 30 languages around the world. He lives in London.

Karl is the author of the following books...

Be You! (Illustrated by Ela Smietanka. Aug 2023)

The Box Full of Wonders (illustrated by Emily Hamilton. Aug 2023)

Snug as a Bug? (Illustrated by Alex Willmore. June 2023)

Watch Out! There's a Monster Coming (illustrated by Zehra Hicks. May 2023)

Beware the Blue Bagoo (illustrated by Andrea Stegmaier. Feb 2023)

I Really Really Love You So (illustrated by Duncan Beedie. Jan 2023)

The World at Your Feet (illustrated by Clara Anganuzzi. Aug 2022)

I'll Be There (illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw. June 2022)

How to Mend a Friend (illustrated by Clara Anganuzzi. June 2021)

The Hat Full of Secrets (illustrated by Wazza Pink. Oct 2020)

I Really REALLY Need a Wee (illustrated by Duncan Beedie. Sept 2020)

If you See a Lion (illustrated by Andrea Stegmaier. Aug 2020)

I Can ROAR like a Dinosaur (illustrated by Ross Collins. Aug 2020)

I Am NOT an Elephant (illustrated by Ross Collins. Feb 2020)

I Am a Tiger (illustrated by Ross Collins. May 2019)

The Same But Different Too (illustrated by Kate Hindley. May 2019)

For All the Stars Across the Sky (illustrated by Chiaki Okada. Feb 2019)

A Bear is a Bear (except when he's not) (illustrated by Anuska Allepuz. Mar 2018)

Little Grey's Birthday Surprise (illustrated by Louise Pigott. Feb 2018)

Here Comes the Sun (illustrated by Migy Blanco. Mar 2017)

Fum (illustrated by Lucy Fleming. Mar 2017)

Karl illustrated the following picture books...

Superchimp (written by Giles Paley-Phillips. 2016)

The Rupert the Dinosaur series (written by Douglas Vallgren. 2013-16)

The Bear Extraordinaire (written by Cathy Rushworth. 2015)

For more about Karl visit www.karlnewson.com

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These children and animals are all very different to each other. Some are big, some are small. Some are gentle, some are rough. Everyone is playful, but who's the best at hiding? One thing's certain: they all love a good bedtime story! The perfect picture book for little ones who are just beginni...

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Help Me Grow Minnesota (2023) Help me grow resources Minnesota Department of Education 

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Help Me Grow Minnesota (2023) Help me grow resources Minnesota Department of Education 

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A State Webpage that provides local resources for childcare providers, families and children such as food banks, childhood screening, special education services, developmental milestones, affordable housing etc.

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About Help Me Grow in Minnesota

Minnesota's Help Me Grow has many resources about the development of young children for parents and professionals. These resources include information on developmental milestones, YouTube videos, caregiver strategies to support development, screening and evaluation, and how to talk about developmental concerns.

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About Help Me Grow in Minnesota Minnesota's Help Me Grow has many resources about the development of young children for parents and professionals. These resources include information on developmental milestones, YouTube videos, caregiver strategies to support development, screening and evaluation, and how to talk about developmental concerns.

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Schullo. A (2015) Pink and Blue: Communicating Gender to Children TEDx Talks

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Schullo. A (2015) Pink and Blue: Communicating Gender to Children TEDx Talks

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A Ted Talk detailing the impact of applying gender bias on young children and how it can cause a divide throughout their lives.

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Pink and Blue: Communicating Gender to Children | Anthony Schullo | TEDxNorthCentralCollege

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Bruner, H (2021) What Makes A Family? Hannah Bruner

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Bruner, H (2021) What Makes A Family? Hannah Bruner

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A children's book about celebrating family diversity, it looks at different family units such as same sex parents, single parents, mixed race families and blended families etc.

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Each family is different. Each family's unique!

Readers will fall in love with this lyrical, whimsical ode to families and the common thread that creates them all. From blended families to foster families and all the families in-between, this colorful, inclusive picture book teaches children and grown-ups alike that no matter how a family is created, what truly makes a family is CHOOSING to LOVE .

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What Makes A Family? [Bruner, Hannah, Sonke, Sandie] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. What Makes A Family?

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Zeineddine, L (2016) A Child's Curiosity: Understanding Cultural Difference TED xTalks

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Zeineddine, L (2016) A Child's Curiosity: Understanding Cultural Difference TED xTalks

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A TED talk about how we learn about cultural differences in childhood can impact us and how we view others later in life.

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A Child's Curiosity: Understanding Cultural Difference | Lara Zeineddine | TEDxOxbridge

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PBS Newshour (2017) Anti-bias lessons help preschoolers hold up a mirror to diversity PBS News

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PBS Newshour (2017) Anti-bias lessons help preschoolers hold up a mirror to diversity PBS News

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A video clip from a story by a local new station emphasizing the importance of having conversations about racial injustice, diversity and inclusion in preschools and how one school is implementing activities and a specific curriculum that teaches children diversity.

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Anti-bias lessons help preschoolers hold up a mirror to diversity

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Pak, E (2022) Food: A Third Culture Kid’s sense of identity TED Conferences LLC

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Pak, E (2022) Food: A Third Culture Kid’s sense of identity TED Conferences LLC

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A TED Talk that explores cultural identity through the increase of Expats and emphasizes the impact food has on our cultural identity.

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Get a daily email featuring the latest talk, plus a quick mix of trending content.

By subscribing, you understand and agree that we will store, process and manage your personal information according to our Privacy Policy

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Eric Pak: Food: A Third Culture Kid's Sense of Identity.

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Cultural identity is a key element in what makes us who we are. But as more people adopt the expat life, their children become exposed to the plethora of cultures that exist in the world, thus muddling their own. However, food is an aspect of cultural identity that follows us wherever we go, which can subsequently establish one's cultural identity.

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Simmons, J (2021) I Can Say No! National Center for Youth Issues

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Simmons, J (2021) I Can Say No! National Center for Youth Issues

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A children’s storybook about empowering children by teaching them boundaries.

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In I Can Say No , Jenny Simmons teaches children the power of the word "no." Whether it's saying no to bullying or someone invading their personal space or simply to playing with a friend when they need some alone time, children learn that they can use their voice to stand up for what is good in the world, and good for themselves.

I learned a little word, And even though it's small, When I use it with authority, I'm the strongest of them all!

NO That's right. I can say NO.

I can say no to a movie I don't like. I can say no if I'm not into riding bikes. I can say no if I want to be alone, Or I'm feeling kind of tired and would rather stay at home.

As parents and educators, we often teach children to use the word "no" when they are in danger or when someone is trying to harm them. But "no" is powerful in other areas of life, as well. Learning to say "no" without feeling guilty or needing to explain themselves gives children the power to protect their boundaries, energy, convictions, and time. Saying "no" also allows them to create space for saying "yes" to the things that matter most. By teaching children how to use this small but mighty word, they will be able to face life with confidence, independence, and a positive sense of self-worth!

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I Can Say No: Help Kids Protect Boundaries and Build Confidence

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I Can Say No: Help Kids Protect Boundaries and Build Confidence [Jenny Simmons, Kristin Sorra] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. I Can Say No: Help Kids Protect Boundaries and Build Confidence

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Get a daily email featuring the latest talk, plus a quick mix of trending content.

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Jitendra Singam: You define your identity

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I am currently a 16 year old, Lower 6th student at KTJ, after studying here for 2 years. I have a variety of general interests in multiple areas, including music, debate, table tennis and computing. However my primary interest lies in physics and analytical mathematics, as I intend to pursue a study of physics at university.