There are four main components of empathy. Keeping them in mind can help you show your child he’s loved for who he is. It lets him know that you see what he’s going through as more than just a problem to “fix.”

Taking his perspective: Putting your own feelings and reactions aside to see the situation through your child’s eyes.

Putting aside judgment: Not jumping to and expressing conclusions about your child’s situation.

Understanding your child’s feelings: Tapping into your own experiences to find a way to get what your child is feeling or to remember a time when you felt the same way. (Be careful not to overdo it, however. Your child’s experiences are his own.)

Communicating that you understand: Letting your child express himself without using “fix it” phrases like “what you need to do is….” Instead, try reflective phrases like, “It sounds like you…” or “I hear that you….”

 By Amanda Morin