Cultivating Empathy

“You don’t think about anyone but yourself!” — yelled my mum on many occasion when I was a kid 🙈 

Researchers generally define empathy as the ability to sense other people’s emotions and think about what someone else is thinking or feeling. 

The ability to put yourself in another’s shoes can make you think twice about saying mean things or feel good about doing good. 

Let’s be honest, we’re all a bit self-centred at times 😅 Sometimes it can be really challenging and especially for kids who are still learning how to share, how to care and how to relate to others. Aren’t we all just trying to figure it out as we go anyways?! haha.

Here are some tips for cultivating empathy in kids:

• Talk about and label feelings; yours, theirs and others.

• Validate the uncomfortable feelings.

• Practice self-regulation and calming strategies.

• Demonstrate empathy toward them and others.

• Read stories that show empathy.

• Use "I" messages; "I feel..."

• Model through play.

• Encourage self-reflection. Ask questions. Challenge their assumptions.

• Set clear expectations within the family.

• Provide opportunities to extend empathy and think about others in the community.