Empathy isn’t just taking another perspective. Con men can do that. In order to be empathetic, children need to know how to value, respect and understand another person’s points of view, even when they don’t agree.
In the wake of these dispiriting study results, the Making Caring Common Project and the Ashoka Empathy Initiative created a set of recommendations for teaching empathy to children.
1. Empathize with your child and model how to feel compassion for others…
2. Make caring for others a priority and set high ethical expectations….
3. Provide opportunities for children to practice…
4. Expand your child’s circle of concern…
5. Help children develop self-control and manage feelings effectively….
Jessica Lahey is an educator, writer and speaker
