How To Teach Empathy to Kids I 4 Simple Strategies (video 13 of 27)

Can empathy actually be taught? Yes. Empathy is an important part of friendships, family relationships, and learning how our actions affect other people. And while these skills develop over time, parents can intentionally help children practice them. In this Parenting 101 video, child psychologists Dr. Erin Avirett and Dr. Jordana Mortimer share four practical ways to help children develop empathy. ❤️ Practice empathy. Talk explicitly about what empathy means. Notice opportunities to show care for other people—and praise your child when you catch them naturally considering someone else's feelings. 👀 Lead by example. Give children opportunities to help and serve others. At first, you can do it together: “Let's tidy up Mom's car so it feels good to her when she gets in.” 💭 Use reflective questions. Instead of simply telling your child how someone else feels, encourage them to think about it: “You really wanted that ice cream cone. How do you think your sister felt when she realized it was the last one?” 🤝 Teach cooperation. Show children how people can work together, divide up responsibilities, and reach a goal more efficiently. Cooperation helps children recognize that other people's time, effort, and contributions matter too. You don't need a formal “empathy lesson.” Everyday interactions, books, shows, sibling conflicts, and family activities give us opportunities to help children stop and consider another person's perspective. 🌿 YOUR ACTION STEP The next time you're reading a book or watching a show with your child, pause when a character shows empathy. Ask: “What do you think they noticed?” “How do you think the other person felt?” “What did they do that helped?” ▶️ Continue watching the full Parenting 101 series:    • Parenting 101: Evidence-Based Parenting wi...   ABOUT MIND & CHILD Dr. Erin Avirett and Dr. Jordana Mortimer are child psychologists and moms who created Mind & Child to give parents practical, research-backed strategies they can actually use in real life. #ParentingTips #Empathy #positiveparenting Chapters 00:10 Why empathy is important