Empathy is a personality trait that refers to a person's ability to feel what another is feeling, even though he isn't going through the same experience. According to Babycenter.com, children start to grasp the concept of empathy at around 8- or 9-years-old, but you can begin teaching it sooner. Some children will naturally feel empathy more than others, but you can give those who don't a push in the right direction by implementing some specific strategies.
Step 1
Listen well to your child when she speaks, and encourage her to share feelings, regardless of her age. Teach her how to describe and relay her own feelings as a first step to understanding the feelings of others.
Step 2
Model the behavior you want your child to emulate. Point out situations where you relate to the feelings of a family member or friend, and let your him see that you are taking on some of those feelings.
Step 3
Play games with your child where she can see a social situation from a distance and guess what the people are feeling by their facial expressions or actions. Play the game at a park or shopping mall where a lot of people are gathered.
Step 4
Praise your child when you notice him showing empathy toward someone else. Label the feeling so he can identify it in the future, and explain to him how he showed empathy in the situation.
Step 5
Ask your child questions about her social life, such as who she played with that day or any interesting conversations she may have had. Take opportunities to ask what she thinks the other person may have been feeling at the time.
Step 6
Give your child small jobs to do around the house such as tidying up, setting the table or raking leaves. Explain how the job he's done has helped the family and made everyone's day a little easier.
Step 7
Ask your child to consider what someone else, such as a sibling or friend, might like on occasions you are buying her a treat. Open her mind to thinking of others when she is receiving something for herself.
Step 8
Share your own feelings about matters that are unrelated to your child's life, such as social or work situations, to illustrate that everyone feels the same emotions as he does. Show how a situation may have frustrated you, and how you arrived at a solution.
