Blog - Dr. Kim Blackham

As a parent or caregiver, teaching children about empathy can be a real challenge. It’s not a trait that comes naturally to most kids, especially in today’s society, where self-interest tends to be the norm. That’s why it’s essential to provide children with guidance and support as they learn to understand and care about the feelings of others. With time, patience, and positive reinforcement, you can help your child develop a strong sense of empathy that will serve them well throughout their lives.

The following exercises are not only fun, but also effective in helping children become more empathetic.

I Wonder

Go to a public location where you can sit and watch other people coming and going–somewhere like the airport, a mall, a park, a fair, a sporting event, etc.

Find a place to sit that is in an area of moderately heavy traffic. You want it to be busy but not crowded. Then start asking your child questions:

What do you notice about these people?
Where do you think they are going?
Can you pick out a particular person?
Tell me about them: Who are they with? Why are they here?

You have probably heard about IQ (Intelligence Quotient), a measure of cognitive intelligence. It is often used to assess a person’s ability to reason, learn, and solve problems. Emotional intelligence (referred to as EQ or emotional quotient) is the ability to identify, understand, and manage one’s own emotions, as well as to recognize and respond appropriately to the emotions of others. It involves skills such as empathy, self-awareness, and effective communication.

Emotional intelligence is important for personal and professional success, as it can help individuals build stronger relationships, make better decisions, and navigate social situations more effectively. For these reasons, it is the #1 key to success for both you and your child.

When we understand our own emotions, we are better able to regulate them.

If we feel angry and don’t understand why we’re angry, our outbursts and feelings become much more difficult to control. Identifying the root cause of our emotions helps us manage and communicate them effectively. We are able to move forward with positive coping mechanisms and emotional regulation rather than react in ways that damage relationships and increase our pain.

Ultimately, those with high levels of emotional intelligence have high levels of empathy.

Empathy is the ability to feel and experience someone else’s emotions.

Surprisingly Simple Ways to Help Children Develop Empathy

The following exercises are not only fun, but also effective in helping children become more empathetic.

I Wonder

Why Emotional Intelligence is Your Child’s #1 Key to Success

When we understand our own emotions, we are better able to regulate them.