As we delve further into our journey through Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), let’s explore the next two gems in the SEL treasure trove: social awareness and empathy. As a mother, you act as a guiding light to helping your child understand the feelings of others by embracing the magic of empathy. Nurturing social awareness and empathy in your child will allow them the opportunity to participate in healthy social interactions and relationships throughout their lives. So, let’s get started!
Social awareness and empathy involve understanding and being sensitive to the emotions and experiences of others. You can help your child build social awareness by modeling these SEL skills yourself and by encouraging them to look beyond themselves to consider how their actions impact others. This process begins by learning to understand how to read a room and interpret what others may be feeling. For example, imagine your child notices a friend sitting alone during recess and joins them. That’s social awareness in action! By acknowledging the perspectives of others, they’re taking their first steps toward becoming kind and caring individuals.
Empathy and social awareness go hand in hand. Noticing others’ feelings is important, but the ability to interpret those feelings and treat people as they wish to be treated themselves is a huge component of SEL. Remember the time your child gave you a hug when you were feeling down? That’s empathy, the heartwarming ability to feel and relate to another person’s emotions.
Here are a couple activities that you can add to your SEL toolbox to use with your kids at home. These activities can be modified to meet your personal needs.
The Empathy Mirror
Teach your child the “empathy mirror” technique. Whenever they’re sharing their own feelings, guide them to take a moment to consider how the other person might be feeling in that situation. For example, if they’re excited about a family outing, you might ask them, “How do you think Grandma feels about spending time with us?”
Storytime with a Twist
Choose books that highlight diverse characters and emotional experiences. After reading together, have a conversation about how the characters might have felt during different parts of the story. This exercise nurtures social awareness and empathy by inviting your child to explore the character’s emotions.
Random Acts of Kindness
Another way you can embody social awareness and empathy is to embark on a family mission to spread kindness. Brainstorm and execute acts of kindness for people around you. Encourage your child to reflect on how these acts might make others feel. Then, discuss the impact of their actions.
As you navigate this journey of cultivating social awareness and empathy, remember that these skills not only enhance relationships but also contribute to your child’s overall emotional well-being. The ability to understand and connect with others is a gift that will serve your child throughout their lives. Developing social awareness and empathy are key factors to a youngster’s ability to thrive in social situations as adults. By utilizing the activities and interactions discussed above, you open the door to your child’s life as a loving and caring human.
If you feel like delving into some additional resources on nurturing social awareness and empathy, there are some excellent resources below. Until next time, be well and move forward with loving kindness!
Resources for Parents:
CASEL – Core Competencies of SEL
Edutopia – Cultivating Empathy in Children
Greater Good Magazine – The Science of Empathy
PsychCentral – Teaching Children Empathy