Empathy Training

As part of our Character Education, we are starting a program called Second Step. The goal of the program is to build your child's problem solving and social skills. The first part focuses on Empathy Training. Your child will be learning to:

• identify others' feelings
• predict how others might feel
• show others they care

These skills can be practiced at home, as well as at school. Please help your child to:

• identify their and others' feelings by looking for clues in the face, voice, body and situation ("You're clenching your teeth and fists, are you angry? why?")
• recognize that people may react differently to different situations ("You like this TV program, but it scares your brother. What could we do about it?")
• recognize cause and effect ("Why is your friend crying?")
• predict feelings ("How do you think your friend feels when she asks you a question and you don't answer her?")
• recognize the difference between accidental actions and those done on purpose ("Do you think he meant to knock over your bike?")
• communicate feelings ("I feel happy when you do your chores.")
• listen to others ("I can tell you are listening because you are looking at me.")
• accept differences in others ("It is okay for your friend to be different from you. You two are alike in some ways too. How?")

By listening and talking about feelings, your child will feel valued and be more understanding of others. I am sure you already talk about these things at home but if you could pay special attention to them at this time that we are focusing on it at school it will hopefully help your child make more connections to what they are learning. 

Thanks!