February: Teaching Empathy

February: Teaching Empathy

Empathy is the ability to put yourself in someone else’s shoes. The ability to understand and relate to someone’s emotions allows people to make a deeper connection. But how do you teach young egocentric children empathy? You can start by talking about emotions. Making sense of your own emotions help build an understanding of where feelings come from. There are many children’s books available on the topic of emotions.

Dr. Michele Borba, author of “Unselfie: Why empathetic kids succeed in our All-About-Me World,” discusses four steps to discussing feelings with your child:

1. Stop and tune in. -We are often so distracted by the busy world around us, but we need to stop and put our phones away and talk to our children.
2. Look face-to-face. Good eye contact shows someone you are actually listening. Even small children. Get down on their level, sit on the floor with them while you are talking to them.
3. Focus on feelings. Give your child a chance to talk about their feelings. Model phrases like “ I feel    when .” Give them different examples of emotions they might be feeling. Point out things you notice to them; such as, “I notice your face looks angry, are you upset about something?” Give them a chance to express their feelings.
4. Express your feelings. Giving language to feelings and modeling that to your child will be an important first step in their ability to express their own emotions.

Tuning in to your child, discussing emotions, and  modeling how to handle your emotions is the first step to raising empathetic children.