Developing Empathy in Children

In The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind by Daniel J. Siegel, MD and Tina Payne Bryson, PhD, they state it is necessary to engage higher level thinking and the emotional parts of the brain. Empathy is a function of the upstairs brain, and a skill that needs to be developed.

According to Brené Brown in Atlas of the Heart she defines “Empathy, the most powerful tool of compassion, is an emotional skill set that allows us to understand what someone is experiencing and to reflect back that understanding.” She states research reflects two types of empathy, cognitive empathy is being able to recognize and understand the feelings of another mentally, and affective empathy is experience sharing and attunement with the emotions of another.

According to Siegel and Payne Bryson, a wonderful way to cultivate empathy is to “ask simple questions that encourage the consideration of another’s feelings…” Simply draw the child’s attention to the feelings of others.

HOW THIS LOOKS?

1. Another child is crying in line at the grocery store. Ask your child: Why do you think that child is crying?

2. A store clerk is rude to you during checkout. Ask your child: Did that lady seem mad? What do you think could have made her mad?

3. It’s someone’s birthday at a restaurant and everyone is singing to them. Ask your child: How do you think the birthday person feels right now?

Easy-peasy, right?! It’s important to weave these tactics into everyday interactions with children. If you are seeking child guidance support, Coriander Living Collective has got you! Contact us.