Ages 3-5:
When Susie sees a child crying because they fell down at the park, her mother says, “The boy is crying because he’s hurt. How would you feel if you fell down?” This helps Susie understand the concept of empathy.
Ages 6-8:
When Matthew doesn’t want to share his toys with his friend, his dad reminds him, “Remember when you went to play at Jimmy’s house and he shared his toys with you? How did that make you feel?”
Ages 9-11:
After Laura’s friend shared that she is moving away, her mother encourages, “It must be hard for Sophia to move away from all her friends. Maybe you can let her know you understand how she feels and offer some comfort.”
Ages 12-14:
Seeing that his classmate is being left out of a game, Sam’s coach prompts him, “Imagine how you’d feel in his situation. Maybe you can invite him to join your team.”
Ages 15-18:
When Sarah’s friend breaks up with his boyfriend, her dad advises, “It’s important to show you understand how hard this is for him. Just being there to listen can be a big help.”
Teaching empathy involves helping children understand and share the feelings of others. This allows them to develop more meaningful and supportive relationships.
