Two more weeks to go and it’s back to school in our neck of the woods. I can’t believe that summer is almost over, but more than anything, I can’t believe that our son is going to be an 8th grader. It’s his last year in middle school, but it seems like it was only yesterday when he told us about what he felt about starting middle school. He had mixed emotions. He was excited, but he was anxious too – anxious to be in a much bigger school and having to encounter more students and new people.
Thankfully though, our son never had problems in fitting right in and making new friends quickly. I think I could also give thanks to those kids that he met in school which happened to be friendly and kind kids as well. Kind to show that they care and kind to be friendly enough to new people that they meet. And their parents should be given kudos for how these kids treat one another because I do believe that attitude starts at home which I try my best to teach our son.
Not unless we ask people what they’re going through, we would never know what kind of problems they have. Showing one that you care or empathize can be done at any time regardless if you know what’s going on in their life.
So how do we teach empathy at home? Here are our ways:
1. Be an example.
Our son looks up to us. He sees what we do and hears what we say. What he sees and hears is what he’ll do. So if we want him to be a good individual, we should show him how.
2. We show scenes and tell stories.
Coming from a third world country where I’ve seen the worst scenarios among children like being on the streets trying to earn a living at an early age or just begging, I always tell my son how fortunate he is to not have to do the things those children do and show him pictures of their horrid conditions. And with that, him showing he cares to the less fortunate by sharing has become second nature to him.
3. Help manage feelings.
As humans, we have our moments. And with kids, self-control is harder. We should teach them to develop self-control and manage their feelings because when they are not their best selves, they tend not to show empathy and they could care less.
Kleenex® sponsored an experiment led by researchers at Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence which you can check online at Facebook.com/Kleenex.
Also, this story is part of the Kleenex® “Someone Needs One” program which encourages people to show that they care in any way they can or even in the simplest way possible by sharing a Kleenex® tissue. You can visit the Kleenex® site to see how you can show that you care this back-to-school-season.
Our son always has seasonal allergy issues and that’s why he always carries Kleenex® tissue with him in his backpack every single day throughout the entire school year. But after learning about this program from Kleenex®, it gave a new whole meaning to just using the tissues for his allergy. And writing in cursive and creating a cute font himself which put a smile on my face, my son wrote this note when I asked him what he would tell someone or a friend to show that he cares.
This Kleenex® video is showing how middle school students feel about going back to school and what they felt after showing empathy and after being shown empathy with writing, finding that even the simplest of words can make a difference. I was surprised with the different emotions that these kids felt in going to middle school, but I was also delighted with how they learned immediately how to surpass their doubts and how to show empathy to help others make the transition to a new environment. See it for yourself.
My son truly has been fortunate. Coming from a foreign country, the Philippines, he could have ran into all kinds of problems fitting in with a new culture. But from the beginning when he entered 3rd grade, he’s ran into no bullying, racism or anything to make him feel unwelcome. That is empathy at the highest level and speaks well of his classmates. And that also points out that kids need to learn to care for others even if they are different and show it in their actions on a daily basis.
How about you? How do you teach your kids empathy at home?
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
I love this post. Empathy is an important part of being a decent human being, and it’s so important that we help teach it to our kids.
I try to be an example to my kids everyday on how to be a good person. Empathy is one of those traits. It’s important for them to be able to put themselves into other people’s shoes.
Having empathy can make a huge difference when interacting with others. It is so important that we teach our child to have empathy for others. Being a positive example goes a long way in helping them learn empathy.
What a great post, it is so important to teach empathy. I think many lack that in our society today and it is sad. Teaching kids this skill that should last into adult hood will be great to see a new generation of adults having empathy towards others!
Empathy is such an important yet complex skill that is hard to teach. I think your tips are great, especially about how to serve as an example for your kids. If you want them to act a certain way, you have to act the same way.
With whatever we teach our kids, we should be a great example first. It is easier to teach them if they see it in our actions too!
These are wonderful tips! Empathy is one of the most important things that you can teach a child.
So glad to see parenting that is the same as we do with our kids. He is growing up to be a great human that he is because of you guys.
I love these ideas. As a homeschool mom, I get to teach these values in our day to day. I agree you have to lead by example.
I think these are all wonderful ideas. It’s great to teach this to kids. I also really love those Finding Dory kleenexes! They are cute!
First off, you son is so handsome! You must be very proud, I do try to teach empathy to my daughter telling stories and sharing experiences. And most of all leading by example and trying to be an empathetic caring role model for her.
Thank you, Rosemond. He is handsome like his late Dad. 🙂 And yes, I am so proud of him because he is such a good boy and a smart young man too. 🙂
This is one skill I work with my children from the very beginning of their lives. Even as toddlers, I talk to them about how someone else feels and how they imagine it. I think it really helps them be good people as they get older.
This is a great post. It is so important to teach our children empathy. I will be sharing this post in a Mom’s group as well.
That is so sweet of you. Thank you, Sarq. 🙂
I love this post. Empathy is very important… I try to teach empathy by being a good example
I love all these tips. I think it’s so important for us as parents to be models of what empathy looks like.
Teaching Empathy is so important and it is great for parents to make sure they teach it at home
Empathy and accountability. If I teach my kids nothing else but those two things, I’ll count myself as having done a good job raising them.
It always is good to teach empathy at home. Kids have to learn right from wrong. How to care for other people’s feelings.
It’s wonderful that you teach empathy at home. I wish more parents would do this. I have two grand kids in middle school and I hope that they would set an example for other kids.
I am thankful to have a son that really understands this. Even being special needs he really gets that others need some comfort.
When my daughter was younger and we were trying to teach her about empathy who used scenarios from some of her tv shows. It’s not always easy to have empathy but it is important to at least try to have it.
I think teaching empathy is so important. My kids are small, and I want to get started with them . These are such great tips. I am going to implement these starting tomorrow to help my children chose kindness always.
My kids are still small but I am trying to teach them from now already. I think it is really important.
I think this is a great campaign. Yes we definitely teach our kids empathy. I think it is a great lesson to teach. I try my best to set a good example.
Wow. Most of our schools started around here on the day you published this. – It’s definitely important to teach empathy.
Being an example is huge with kids, in every way. What they see is much more influential than the things we say.
Such great tips! Little ears are always listening and observing, so we try to practice what we preach!