Expert Opinion

How can I teach my child about empathy?

11 Apr
Teaching empathy to toddlers and preschoolers is all about helping them to firstly understand and secondly care about other people’s feelings. At this age, their ability to see the world from someone else’s perspective is just starting to grow, so don’t worry if it takes time.

 

Start by modelling empathy yourself. Kids are like sponges—they’ll pick up on how you treat others. If your child sees you being kind to a neighbour or comforting a friend, they’ll learn that it’s important to show that you care about how others feel. Narrate your actions: “I’m helping Nana carry her groceries because it looks like she’s tired.”

Because emotional awareness is still developing, try to label emotions as they come up in everyday life. If your child is upset because their tower fell over, say, “You’re feeling frustrated because your tower didn’t stay up.” When reading books or watching shows, ask questions like, “How do you think that character is feeling? Why do you think they feel that way?” This helps children learn to identify and talk about emotions.

Notice and comment when your child shows instances of their developing empathy – so if your child shares their toy or gives a friend a hug, praise them: “That was so kind of you to share! I bet that made your friend happy.”

Role-playing is another great tool to encourage emotional awareness. Act out scenarios with toys or pretend play to help your child practise responding to others’ feelings – you could pretend a doll is hurt and discuss how they could help.

Remember, toddlers and preschoolers are still learning and won’t always get it right. Be patient and guide them gently—empathy grows over time with practice and positive reinforcement.