![](https://sesameworkshop.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Caring_Article_GrowingEmpathy-560x420.jpg)
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.
![Two adults and children are engaging in nature and outdoor activities.](https://sesameworkshop.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/USSI-PSEG-Article-Community-667x500.jpg)
Engaging Kids with Nature and Community: Outdoor Activities and Adventures
Learning to care for the environment starts with loving the natural world around you.
![Printable Julias Community Mural.](https://sesameworkshop.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/PSEG-Printable-JuliasCommunityMural-ENG-667x500.jpg)
Julia’s Community Mural
There are so many ways to be kind, caring, and helpful in our communities!
![Printable Playground Helpers.](https://sesameworkshop.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/PSEG-Printable-PlaygroundHelpers-ENG-667x500.jpg)
Playground Helpers
Help the Twiddlebugs find their lost materials to build their playground!
![Printable Together Trail.](https://sesameworkshop.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/PSEG-Printable-TogetherTrail-ENG-667x500.jpg)
Together Trail
Help children practice counting and learn ways to help your community.
![Community Garden Clean-up.](https://sesameworkshop.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/PSEG-Printable-CommunityGardenCleanUp-ENG-667x500.jpg)
Community Garden Clean-up
Teamwork makes taking care of our communities a little easier.
![Printable Community Connection.](https://sesameworkshop.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/PSEG-Printable-CommunityConnections-ENG-667x500.jpg)
Community Connections
Showing our love through art is one great way to care for one another.
![A Grown-up and child helping out in a community garden.](https://sesameworkshop.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Webinar_LittleNeighbors-667x500.jpg)
Little Neighbors: Fostering Community Connection, Engagement, and Exploration