A newborn child expresses his needs, letting his parents know what he is feeling. Parents who are emotionally in tune with their child meet his physical and emotional needs, teaching him he has value and can trust others. As the child grows up, his parents teach him empathy by example.
Empathy
When you understand how someone else feels, looking at her point of view and wanting to help her, you are experiencing empathy. You can teach very young children about empathy and how to use the feelings they have to understand and help others, writes the ForeverFamilies website. Your child starts developing empathic instincts as his cognitive skills grow: When he was a newborn, he reacted to the cries and distress of other babies in the newborn nursery by crying. He could not do anything else, but he felt empathy for those babies.
How Empathy Develops
Your child's ability to respond to the sadness or distress of another person changes as he grows older. After his first birthday, he observes another child's tears but does not actively move to comfort her. He might begin crying, but he doesn't comfort the other child. After his second birthday, he might begin to hug and pat an upset child or parent, especially if the person is hurt.
Your expectations toward your child influence his development and expression of empathy. If you explain to him that helping others is good, he will respond to your message. He is more attuned to the reactions of other children and uses those reactions to learn that negative behaviors are wrong. Those reactions have more impact on him than your reaction. If he spends much time around other children, he will learn what is considered poor behavior, writes the Massachusetts Institute of Technology website.
Parent With Empathy
Your child might find it easier to develop empathy when he lives in a home where he feels happy and secure. When he knows you love him and his needs will be taken care of, he will move his focus away from himself and toward others. Help him develop a sense of empathy by acting with empathy, both toward him and others.
If you have pets at home or if you spend time with four-legged creatures, your child will learn not only how to care for the pets but also how to express compassion.
Teach your child empathy by giving to others and encourage him to help those who are experiencing difficult times. Let him know you saw him acting with empathy -- do this in a quiet, private moment. When your child treats another person badly, use this behavior to teach him how others feel. Personalize the lesson, asking him how he would feel if someone else treated him badly, then teach him how others feel.
Empathy-Building Activities
Teach your younger child about empathy by reading books in which characters show empathy. Discuss the stories with your child.
Your older child can learn about empathy through poetry -- encourage him to write down his feelings or those feelings he believes others might be feeling. He also might be interested in drama and taking roles in which others have experienced difficult situations.
Why Empathy is Important
Children who learn about empathy are able to treat others with compassion. These children develop stronger social skills and adjust more easily to the school setting. In contrast, children who have not been taught about empathy or how to treat others with compassion are more likely to act out with violence or aggression, especially against others.
