You’ve heard of “Put yourself in someone else’s shoes.” Sometimes parents tell me how their child just doesn’t understand their sibling’s emotions or feelings and can be so mean to their brother or sister, or how the teen just doesn’t understand why their parent is concerned about them when they are out and just need a check-up call, or how a young child wants his own way all the time (very egocentric).
“Empathy is the capacity to understand or feel what another person is experiencing from within their frame of reference, that is, the capacity to place oneself in another’s position.”
Sesame Street with the “Hulk” (Mark Ruffalo) explains Empathy quite simply (and fun): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CS7Vh01zNOY
Following are some games or activities (5years-adults) you and the family can play together at the dinning room table or on the carpet after dinner, to help understand and enhance Empathy.
Empathy-Family-Activities: Download it here
Enjoy the time together and experiencing Empathy:
This article was originally published on PracticalParenting.co.za
