Teaching Children Empathy

• Teach students the value of empathy

• Assist students in recognizing their own and others feeling

• Instruct students how to exhibit understanding and acceptance

• Grades: K-6

By Tonia Caselman, Ph.D.

Helping children develop greater empathy-related awareness and skills can help prevent negative social behaviors such as bullying, meanness, and alienation. Empathy is a fundamental social emotion because it brings a sense of emotional connection to others. It is this awareness that is not only basic to all healthy relationships, but also the root of pro-social behavior, altruism, kindness and peace. Empathy has cognitive, affective and behavioral components that can be learned and improved upon by children. Each topic-related lesson includes five inviting worksheets that can be reproduced and used repeatedly with elementary school-aged students.

Paperback, 132 pages. Recommended for grades K-6.

Topics include:

What is Empathy?

Knowing Your Own Feelings

Learning to Read Others Feelings

Listening

Feeling Others

Feelings

Temporarily Putting Your Own Feelings Aside

Making Supportive Statements

Doing Supportive Things

Making / Keeping Friends

Conflict Resolution

Accepting Diversity

Developing Self-Respect