Empathy - Parent 3

Your child is participating in classroom activities focused on learning the importance of showing empathy. We would love for you to keep the discussion going at home!

Definition: Empathy is the ability to understand and share feelings of another person. Empathy means you try to understand how someone is feeling and you try to see a situation from their point of view.

Student Goal: In given social situations, the student will demonstrate empathy toward a peer or adult.

Here are just a few ideas to help get the conversation started:

• Have you ever been hurt by a friend or family member and wished they understood how you felt?
• How does it make you feel when you’re laughing and other people are laughing with you? Now think about how it would make you feel if they weren’t laughing with you.
• Have you ever heard the expression “putting yourself in someone else’s shoes?” What do you think this phrase means?
• What do you think is the difference between sympathy and empathy? Are they the same, different or similar?