Empathy is a key trait in any successful, happy human. It helps us develop genuine relationships, understand others’ behaviors, relate with people, and minimize mistreatment of other people. Because empathy is so important for a successful, healthy life, it should be developed at a young age. As a parent, it can seem daunting to try to develop such a complex skill. However, by following the below tips, you will be able to effectively teach empathy to your child.

Model Empathy

Modeling empathy comes in two parts – modeling it in your life and empathizing with your child. Your child will pay attention to your empathy levels in your day-to-day life. For example, they will see how you treat a janitor or waiter. They will notice if your actions towards others are equal or not. They will hear your words when you are dealing with a frustrating boss or irritating coworker. Work to model empathy in a consistent way so your child sees that being empathetic should be a natural way to handle interactions with other people. Secondly, be empathetic with your child. When they share their feelings with you, acknowledge them and normalize them. Model empathy even when you are upset or giving them consequences to show that empathy is a trait that should be at the heart of any action.

Discuss Emotions

Have regular conversations with your child about what they are feeling and why they are feeling that way. This is particularly important when they experience negative emotions such as anger or frustration. If someone else was involved in causing those emotions, such as a classmate, talk about the situation to help them see the story from the other person’s perspective. You do not need to justify the other person’s behavior, but rather work to show your child to learn where others are coming from. This will also help them regulate their own emotions and not see the world as revolving around them – key things to learning empathy.

Provide Opportunities for Them to Be Empathetic

Once you have effectively modeled what empathy looks and sounds like, give your child a chance to practice empathy themselves. When faced with a situation where someone else’s thoughts and feelings should be considered, pause and ask your child questions that will invite empathy. You could try simply saying, “How do you think that person is feeling right now?” Having them automatically consider another person’s point of view will help empathy become second nature.

Give Back

Spend time in a community that is different from yours to expose your child to other types of people. Model the importance of being empathetic even to those they do not know much about. Take your child to volunteer and give back. Try going to a soup kitchen or donating gifts to a family in need over the holidays. They will learn to extend empathy to people of all types, not just those who they feel more similar. It will create in them a sense of humanity and connectedness to others which drives up feelings of empathy.

Finding Quality Child Care in Reno

Developing empathy is something that should be constantly done throughout your child’s upbringing. At Wonderschool, we understand the importance of developing children to become happy and healthy through quality child care. We are a network of curated, licensed family child care homes and programs. We believe that all children should have access to child care. In Reno, Nevada we offer in-home child care and regular services as well as preschool options. Visit https://www.wonderschool.com/ to learn more about our child care Reno, NV services and how to find the right type of care for your child.