Growing Empathy
Bring out your child's compassion with these helpful tips.
Everyone can develop empathy, but it needs to be taught. Parents can model kindness with their own little everyday acts. Help plant the seeds of empathy by:
- Asking the other children to notice when one of their peers is sad or hurt, and imagine why they’re feeling that way. What might they do to make that person feel better? Praise all efforts at empathy.
- Inviting children to stand in someone else’s shoes. Literally! Switch shoes and imagine what the person whose shoes they’re wearing would say and do. (No meanness allowed!)
- Playing a “compliments” game: Pick one person as the “star of the day.” Others can come up with one nice thing to say about that person. The next day, choose a new star until everyone has had a chance.
- Hosting an Oscar (the Grouch) party: The nicer Oscar’s friends treat him, the grouchier he gets. Choose one person to play Oscar and act as grumpily as possible. Then, pile on the niceness! In the real world, there are lots of grouches—but even grouches appreciate kindness!
- Helping the larger community. Brainstorm a project that you can do together to make your community a better place for everyone: saving coins for a local animal shelter, recycling newspapers, or collecting books or cans of food to give to a family shelter. Take a picture of everyone who helped with the project to include with the donation.
Mindful Caregivers
Practicing mindfulness is a great way to slow down and reset.
Mindful Monsters: Self-Love Mantras with Grover
In this podcast, Grover shares some mindful mantras.
Mindful Monsters: Look and Notice with Cookie Monster
Cookie Monster helps children practice mindfulness by looking and listening carefully to their surroundings.
Mindful Monsters: Bubble Breathing with Abby Cadabby
In this podcast, Abby Cadabby guides children through a bubble breathing exercise.
Mindful Monsters: Body Scan with Big Bird
In this podcast, Big Bird guides children through a mindful body scan.
Coming Together Playlist
This curated playlist is perfect for helping children explore friendships, celebrate differences, and build a better future.
Soothe Snuggle Slowdown: Songs and Strategies for Restful Sleep
This curated playlist helps little ones (and their tired grown-ups) relax and unwind! A mix of mellow tunes sets the mood for naps, bedtime… or just some much needed down time.
