In a time where the message “be kind” is circulating on our social media channels, it has never been more important to raise a child who is kind and compassionate to others.
Like many skills, compassion can be learnt over time and through practice. Thankfully, there are many things you can do to encourage this positive behaviour from your child.
Here are a few tips from a boarding preparatory school in West Sussex…
Talk about emotions
Learning about feelings is the first step in teaching your child how to treat others. This will allow your child to think for themselves and recognise different emotions. Children need to be able to identify how they feel in order to be more understanding. By discussing feelings and emotions with your child you can teach the meaning of empathy. This will encourage them to be kind and respect the feelings and opinions of others.
Set a good example
It is important for parents to teach children how to treat others from an early age. If you want your child to be kind, then you must set a good example and demonstrate a kindness in your daily life. If you want to highlight unkind behaviour, you can point this out in stories or movies. If you make a mistake or have a disagreement with your child, be sure to apologise and talk things through.
Encourage your child to help
Raise your child to help others by encouraging them to take action. There are many ways that your child can do this from litter picking to volunteering in a local charity event; just have a think about how they can make a difference. Have a chat with your child to find out what they are passionate about. Helping a cause that they already have an interest in will keep them motivated.
Laura x