Empathy can be an abstract term, especially for young children. Even as adults we often confuse sympathy (feeling sorry for someone and their situation) with empathy (feeling or understanding the way someone else feels). The old saying “walk a mile in someone else’s shoes” refers to empathy and it is a crucial skill.
Empathy makes us better in all of our relationships - with parents, children, brothers, sisters, friends, cousins, classmates, co-workers, and even our spouse. Empathy motivates us to truly understand how others feel which makes us better listeners and better problem solvers. Instead of jumping into an argument, we can think about the other person’s point of view and have a thoughtful discussion. Empathy motivates our compassion which, in the end, can truly make the world a better place, one person at a time. So how can be reinforce this potentially world-changing skill in young children? There are plenty of things you can do everyday:
Tags: Emotional Intelligence, Social Skills
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AuthorMiss Nicole is the Social Worker for the Early Childhood Program in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Categories
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May 2020
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