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Inculcating the quality of empathy in your child

Team AckoFeb 8, 2024

5-year-old kids might not understand the value of empathy in their daily lives. However, when as parents we try to inculcate this habit, then they will understand it in a better way right from the start.  You need to share certain emotions and feeling with your kid when you are teaching empathy to him. When he starts relating to a certain emotion, he will start recognizing it too. 

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    Here are some ways through which you can inculcate empathy in your child: 

    1. Call out the feeling 

    From the day-to-day activities, try to explain to your child the emotions and feelings that emerge out of a certain behavior. For example, if your child has taken someone’s toy and the other child is feeling sad then let your child know the feeling of sadness. The relative instances from his daily life will make him understand the concept of empathy in a better way. 

    2. Express your disappointment 

    If your child exhibits an uncaring behavior then make sure you show your disappointment to him. Tell him how his inappropriate, uncaring behavior affects others and make him understand that he has to behave properly with others if he expects the same from the other kids. 

    3. Tell moral-oriented stories 

    Read out to your child moral-oriented stories that will help him understand the concept of empathy in a better way. Let him watch inspiring movies and also involve him in activities that require to show his empathic side. Activities should be able to reflect in certain situations how others feel when we do not show empathy to them. 

    4. Examine your values 

    Children learn the most from their parents and it is very important to behave well in front of them. When you practice empathy and compassion in your everyday life, your child will also look up to you and learn the same. Kindness benefits the children and makes them happy and content. They will be self-motivated to change the way they work or think about others. 

    5. Help your kid in discovering himself 

    Every child is a hero and as a parent, it is your responsibility to encourage the heroism in your child. Never show him down in front of others as this will discourage him a lot and his confidence will be shattered. Give him your support if he fails in something so that he doesn’t give up and move away from trying hard next time. This way, your child will also be away from getting bullied by his elder co-students in school as he will know that he is a hero and can accomplish and face anyone. 

    6. Teach rules of being polite to others 

    Manners matter! You need to let your little one know of the importance of manners in our life. Make him aware of the need of including ‘Thanks’ and ‘Please’ during conversations. Show him what effect these words can have on a person and then your child will be able to understand its use better. 

    7. Peep into your child’s social life 

    Ask questions about the relatives that your child meets in daily life like the grandmother, grandfather, uncle, aunt, and his cousins. Also, ask him about the relationship that he shares with them and talk about his friends in school. Ask him about his best friend with whom he plays with every day during the recess time. This will tell you a lot about your child’s social life and he will also get to know about his long-term relations and be empathetic towards them. Do not try to reveal things when your child is not ready. If he shows disinterest in sharing then leave it at that point and ask him when he is ready for it. 

    Grandma’s Tip: Involve your child in charitable activities like helping the poor by giving them clothes and food, giving books and stationery items to underprivileged children. Tell him that he can donate his old clothes to the needy children rather than throwing them and he can also give away his toys that he thinks he doesn’t want to play with anymore. This way, he will have an encounter with reality that not everyone is as privileged as he is, and thus, begin to appreciate his life more. His empathy for others would also be intensified. 

    8. Expect equal empathy from boys and girls 

    There is no logic in thinking that boys are not empathic and girls are more empathic. This quality is raised in the kids from the very start. Also, those who get to see their parents and relatives as a good example of being empathic, get to know much about this quality. So, the more you give your child the examples of empathy, the more he will be drawn toward this quality and learn on a faster rate irrespective of the gender of your child. 

    Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only, based on industry experience and secondary sources. It is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified expert for health or insurance-related decisions. Content is subject to change, refer to current policy wordings for specific ACKO details.

     

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