As teachers, we see a LOT. We see the good things in children, we see the challenging moments, we see some really tricky and often odd behaviors, too. One fundamental question often arises: Can we build empathy in children? The answer, backed by research, is a resounding “yes.” I hope that gives you some relief.
Empathy, the ability to understand and share the feelings of others, is a crucial life skill that contributes to strong relationships, emotional intelligence, and a more compassionate society. While it’s true that some kids may naturally exhibit empathy, it’s a skill that can be nurtured and developed in all children. Let’s dive into the research and explore some practical ways to cultivate empathy in your students.
Understanding the Research
1. The Empathy-Development Timeline
Research suggests that empathy starts developing in children as young as two years old. A study by Hoffman (2001) showed that children become progressively more empathetic as they grow older. This underscores the importance of early intervention to foster empathy. It also points to the need for a lot of parent/caregiver education! The more we can support the home environment at a young age, the more we can move the needle. When children come to us in school with a foundation, it will certainly help us build empathy in students as they grow.
2. The Role of Modeling
A 2010 study by Eisenberg and Morris revealed that children learn empathy by observing it in their environment, particularly from parents, teachers, and peers. Teachers play a pivotal role as models of empathy in a school setting. As educators, we have endless opportunities to show empathy, and one of those ways is in our interactions with other students. When we show empathy towards children who are showing challenging behaviors, it models for children what that type of response and attitude looks like. While this can be incredibly challenging, it’s important to remember that it’s equally powerful.
3. Emotional Literacy
Building empathy involves recognizing and understanding emotions. A study published in the Journal of Early Childhood Research & Practice (Denham, 2006) emphasized the significance of teaching children about emotions and providing opportunities for them to express their feelings. Thankfully, this can truly be a 2-3 minute lesson every day. It can also be simple identification of facial expressions and situation reading in books, watching videos, etc. during academic lessons.
4. Empathy and Classroom Environment
A study by Hoffman and Saltzstein (1967) found that empathy can be encouraged in classrooms where cooperation, perspective-taking, and emotional understanding are emphasized.
Practical Strategies for Teachers
1. Storytelling
Use age-appropriate stories or real-life examples to help children understand various emotional situations. Discuss characters’ feelings and encourage students to put themselves in the characters’ shoes. The good thing is, we read books ALL THE TIME in class! Adding in intentional questions and acknowledgment of seeing empathy, or when a character could have shown empathy, is hugely powerful!
2. Empathy Journals
Have students keep empathy journals where they record instances of empathy they’ve observed or practiced. This encourages self-reflection and reinforces empathetic behaviors. This could be a bell ringer, an end of day or end of week reflection, or part of a closing circle activity.
3. Community Service Projects
Get your students involved in community service. Volunteering and helping those in need is an excellent way to build empathy. Work with your school/district committees! How can you bring in service and volunteering to support your refugee community? Veterans? Unhoused neighbors? Supporting a humane society? Local shelters? A food drive? A sock drive? There’s so many options! Even better – have the students brainstorm themselves! It can be amazing to see what they come up with.
4. Emotion Education
Dedicate time to teach emotional literacy. You can use mood boards, emotional vocabulary games, and discussions about feelings to enhance emotional awareness. I love using the Mood Meter and emotion/SEL word walls to help boost that emotional IQ!
5. Restorative Conversations
Foster an environment where students reflect on tough moments in a restorative way. I personally love using these Think Sheets, as emotion-focused questions and perspective taking is built in to the conversation. Having these mediative conversations with kids can be challenging, which is why having questions like these already scripted for a variety of developmental levels and age groups can be such a supportive resource. Over time, these types of resources and conversations help build empathy across experiences.
Good news, we CAN build empathy in children!
The research is clear: empathy can indeed be nurtured and developed in children. As teachers, it’s our responsibility to provide a fertile ground for this essential skill to grow. By implementing practical strategies like storytelling, role-playing, and community service, we can help our students become more empathetic, compassionate individuals who are better equipped to make the world a kinder place.
