In a world that increasingly intolerant and prejudiced, it is important to teach children to have a sense of empathy. In this case, the parents are exemplary in their daily lives.
From birth, children are found to have a natural ability to love other people and objects in the vicinity. Furthermore, this ability is influenced by the development of other skills, such as curiosity and a desire to meet their needs later. There are times when he is also angry when a friend holding her favorite toy. This is where the role of parents is realized in directing children to be good at managing emotions and learn to be positive.
Naturally, some children are easier to empathize with others, while others are less sensitive. However, it can still be trained through daily. Here are general guidelines that can be selected according to age Small Si. Generally, a new child can fully understand the concept of empathy in the age range of 8-9 years. But at the age of five was, he was able to express feelings about how she wants to be treated, as well as how you should treat others.
Recognize and manage one's own emotions
Empathy requires managing emotions themselves.
- Take him to recognize the emotions that are felt to be more easily feel which may be felt others. You can do this in various ways, such as providing a set of stickers bearing the image of the expression of basic emotions, including face sad, angry, and happy. Every day ask him to choose one sticker can describe his feelings. If possible, persuade him to tell us why sadness, joy, or anger.
- Teach him to be able to manage his own emotions. Take him to practice a deep breath, then exhaled slowly. Anger which controls often make people can not empathize.
Exercise managing emotions is a long term process and could even continue into adulthood.
Interaction with others
How children interact with others a clue whether he has developed an attitude of empathy.
- Scolds the child if doing things that lead to rude or disrespectful attitudes, such as spitting on her. Remind her also to indecency do not imitate others. According to a psychotherapist, do not ever make an exception for the actions that totally unacceptable, such as hitting, for whatever reason or in any location.
- Make household chores as part of the daily activities of all family members, including children. Give him the responsibility of light, such as making the bed and play his game, wipe the glass, or watering the plants in the garden.
- Describe the work of people who are around him, especially those who are often considered less important, such as street sweepers or garbage. Explain that if they are not there, the garbage will pile up in the streets and create risk of disease. From here he will learn to appreciate the presence of others who are often underestimated.
- Remind Little to not greet his friends with a call that is not fun, especially with words that tend to ridicule. Take him to consider how the situation happened to him.
- Give the consequences when he violates the conditions or specific rules. Some of the penalties that can be applied, among others, should not be playing with a favorite toy for a day. Adjust the consequences of this age.
- Give praise for their attitude and actions are good, even though she had not done. Say something like, "Well, good people who help granny crossing the street." This can also be done while watching TV or reading a story at home. You can designate a character is sad, then asked him, "What should he do so do not be sad anymore?" Eventually he will understand that doing good is an appreciable act.
- Opt them into team sports can make a child learn to cooperate, wait their turn, learn to try to win, as well as learn to accept defeat.
In addition to the above steps, you can also ask him to do simple things for others, such as bringing food to a sick neighbor, donated clothes, used toys to victims of natural disasters, or just to let someone else to go first out of the door.
Children will imitate their parents
You are an exemplary child to empathize. Pay attention to whether your daily life reflects the things below.
Speak quietly using good word choices to children. It would be a prime example for the child to behave in the future. When he did wrong or angry, be firm. Remember that assertiveness is different from the rough.
Although it may seem difficult, immediately apologized to him when you are at fault. Children will learn to realize that anyone can make mistakes, but the important thing is the courage to apologize.
You can also talk about your own feelings, such as, "Mama Mama sad when you yell," or, "She has also been angry at a friend Mama, but the next day we had to play together again." Sentences like this will make introspection.
Therefore, the children do not yet have long-term memory, the best step is to repeat the example that you want to give as often as possible. Empathy is not something that can be formed in an instant, but it is the result of small choices every day.
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