Helping Your Child Build Empathy
Your child is learning that their words and actions can have a big effect on those around them, and can lead to both positive and negative interactions with others. Building empathy is a strategy for reducing conflict by empowering your children to take other people’s perspective.
Be kind. It’s that simple.
Set a family “rule” to use kind words with others, instead of language that is cruel or hurtful. While this may be easy to do when peace rules your household, it can be a challenge to continue using kind and respectful words when you are stressed or frustrated with one another.
- Discourage the use of name-calling. Words like “stupid” or “dumb” are put-downs that can cause conflict to escalate quickly. Even if your child picks up negative words or phrases, make it clear that they are not appropriate.
- Help your child to understand the ways in which their behaviors and words affect others, for better or worse.
- “Walking in someone else’s shoes” is easier said than done. It’s hard for a 6-year old to see something from another point of view. Like so many important skills, it requires practice.
- Look for opportunities (in books, TV shows, or everyday life) to point out to your child that two people can have different interpretations of the same situation.
- Kids can be unkind. While your 8 year-old can clearly understand how to tell time or add big numbers, they may not always realize just how hurtful their words or actions are to other people. Your child might only want to play with their best friend, and not notice how left out others may feel.
It’s never too late to apologize.
If squabbles lead to name-calling and put-downs, talk to your child about how they may have made others feel. Realizing that they may have acted in a mean or unkind way – and apologizing for it – helps your child learn that there are things that they can do after a conflict to fix a relationship