7 Simple ways to develop a child's sense of empathy from an early age

Cultivating and teaching a sense of empathy to children from an early age is very important. With a sense of empathy, children can build and build relationships with the people around them.

As a parent, you don't need to worry because cultivating a sense of empathy in your children is not really that difficult. Cultivating a sense of empathy in children can be done in simple ways. Try the various ways below to foster a sense of empathy in children, let's!

The importance of cultivating a sense of empathy in children

Empathy is the ability to cultivate feelings that everyone, even if they are children, should have.

Empathy allows children to put themselves in someone else's shoes and understand the emotions of that person's feelings.

Not only that, cultivating a sense of empathy also means making children understand the conditions of others.

Especially in the development of children aged 6-9 years who are meeting many people and have a great sense of curiosity, empathy is certainly very necessary.

Not only does it make children feel concerned, but they also really feel and think as if they are in that situation.

Everyone, including children, should have the capacity for empathy. Empathy is arguably one of the most important things that everyone should have.

This is because cultivating a sense of empathy in children helps build and maintain healthy, happy relationships with other people.

Without a sense of empathy in children, they tend to be indifferent to their surroundings.

Children also do not want to and cannot feel the suffering that other people experience.

In fact, children may not show regret after hurting others.

As a result, children will often belittle, belittle, or isolate others who are experiencing difficulties.

If your baby grows up without empathy, it will be difficult for him to make friends because he tends to be shunned or disliked by his friends.

If this keeps happening, it will certainly have an effect on his mental state as an adult.

When children grow up, they will be more susceptible to stress, anxiety, depression, so they are prone to do reckless things such as suicide.

Various ways to grow a sense of empathy in children

Empathy is not something that can come naturally from birth.

A sense of empathy will emerge when parents and the environment help foster children from an early age.

Therefore, it takes time to cultivate a sense of empathy in children.

So, if you are wondering how to develop empathy in children from an early age, here are some tips you can try:

1. Make sure the child's emotional needs are met

In order for a child to feel and express empathy for others, make sure that his own emotional needs are met first.

So as a parent, make sure you can provide emotional support to children before they give it to others.

For example, if a child's face shows sadness, you can comfort him to foster a sense of empathy. In addition, you can also hug your child to make him comfortable.

Tell the child, “Moms are worried if they see you sad like this. Don't be sad, please smile so that you can see it pretty."

2. Teach children how to deal with negative emotions

Everyone has experienced negative emotions such as anger and jealousy. However, don't let your child show these negative emotions over and over again.

Starting early, you must teach your child how to deal with negative emotions in a positive way.

This method can also help foster a sense of empathy in children since childhood.

When your child hits a friend, don't scold him right away. It's best to break up your child's quarrels and wait for him to settle down a little.

Now, after you feel calm, slowly invite your child and their friends to talk about how they feel. Make sure you listen to their explanations carefully.

After that, give understanding to children how to express their feelings in a more appropriate way.

For example, you could give an explanation such as, "If you are upset when Rani takes your doll, don't hit it, Sis."

Also convey the way your child should do it, "You can talk nicely to Rani to change or play the doll together."

In addition to instilling a sense of empathy, you indirectly teach children to share.

3. Ask about the child's feelings when conditions are not well

When your child won't budge and accidentally hits a friend or sibling, you need to give him understanding.

Tell them that this child's behavior can hurt others physically or emotionally.

Try saying something like, "How would you feel if someone took your toy?" or "How would you feel if someone hit you?"

Mention those feelings and help your child understand those emotions and feelings.

If your child behaves nicely to someone, such as trying to comfort a crying friend, say something else.

For example, "You are very kind because you are already worried about your friend's condition, I am sure that your friend will feel happy again after being comforted."

Meanwhile, if your child behaves badly or negatively, say the opposite.

For example, “You know you may feel very angry, but what you did earlier made your friend sad because you were forcibly taken away. You don't want to see him sad, right?"

4. Set a good example

Children are excellent imitators. According to the Harvard Graduate School of Education, all the good and bad things that children show cannot be separated from the way they imitate the behavior of their parents or those around them.

Therefore, to foster a sense of empathy for children, make sure you also set a good example.

Show him to be polite, kind and loving towards all sentient beings.

By helping family members, friends, neighbors, and even others who are experiencing difficulties, you have taught your little one how to be an empathetic person.

5. Inviting children to do meditation to foster a sense of empathy

The benefits of meditation are not just to make children feel calm. On the other hand, meditation can also be a way to cultivate a sense of empathy in children.

Not infrequently, a child's self-confidence does not grow well. This makes children choose to isolate themselves from others and find it difficult to socialize because of their inferiority complex.

So that self-confidence does not sink, children's meditation can be an alternative to make it grow.

Apart from self-confidence, meditation that is done by children can also foster a sense of empathy, security, and comfort.

Children who do meditation tend to be happier, cultivate compassion for others, and have higher self-confidence.

In fact, launching from the Healthy Children page, meditation is good for the health of the body, mind and spirit of children.

6. Tell the child that everyone is basically the same

Fostering a sense of empathy in children can be done in various ways, one of which is by getting them to know people who have limitations.

Although everyone is basically the same, people with disabilities or disabilities have limitations which can be physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional, developmental, or some combination of these.

If your little one asks and wonders why there are people who look different from him, you can explain to him that there are humans who are born different.

No human being is exactly the same, whether it's hair, skin, eyes, body, and so on.

However, all humans are the same regardless of their physical deficiencies.

Also tell him that everyone does things differently. Some people may be able to walk on both feet, others use a wheelchair or cane.

Tell him that the condition of a person with a disability cannot be fully controlled by himself, his siblings, parents, or even the doctor.

Give an understanding that wheelchairs for people with disabilities help them to move freely, just like a child's feet help them walk.

Interestingly, empathizing with other people who have different conditions from him during this child's physical development also teaches children to be grateful.

On the other hand, this method can also help shape the social spirit of children from childhood.

7. Get your child used to not teasing and bullying. bully

You can also train your child to feel empathy by teaching your little one not to make fun of his friends.

Give the child the understanding that deliberately hurting the feelings of others, whether in any form, is a wrong action.

Teach your child to apologize immediately when they deliberately or otherwise use abusive or bullying words at others.

It's important for your child to know that anyone, even someone who looks or acts differently has the same feelings as himself.

So, from an early age, children can understand that everyone deserves to be treated with kindness and respect, including himself.

Teaching and cultivating a sense of empathy in children from childhood is not easy.

Children may often ask questions related to various things that are happening in their environment.

Try to explain in language that is easy for the child to understand until he really understands that empathy needs to exist and is carried over to adulthood.

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