Posted by Michele Borba, Ed.D. on June 6, 2016 · 1 Comment
Let’s face it, we’re raising our children in a world that is growing smaller. Global understanding, diversity, and perspective taking are skills that require “Empathy” – the ability to feel with another. The ability to empathize affects our kids’ future health, wealth, and happiness. And why? As a mom I’ve learned that it helps my sons build healthier relationships, strong character, and bounce back. But empathy is also what motivates our children to care. Though children are hard-wired to care, empathy must be nurtured.
Five simple strategies from my new book, UnSelfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our All-About-Me World, can help us raise caring kids that thrive and survive in today’s new world. But before reading them, take a moment to grade your child’s current Empathy Level. How empathetic are they today?? Then you can use the five strategies I present later this week to either tune up or maintain your child’s Empathy Quotient.
PART I: THE EMPATHY QUIZ: HOW EMPATHETIC ARE YOUR KIDS?
The 10 statements that follow describe behaviors usually displayed by preschoolers to teens with strong empathy. To evaluate your child’s strengths, read each statement and indicate what you believe best represents your child’s current level, and the corresponding number of points will be assigned:
Always = 5; Frequently = 4; Sometimes = 3; Rarely = 2; Never = 1
All 10 statements will be added together to get your child’s total score. If your child scores 41 to 50, she shows a strong empathy aptitude. If she scores 31 to 40, she could benefit from empathy enhancement. A score of 21 to 30 shows signs of weakness. A score of 10 to 20 reveals a need for a more intense empathy tune up.
Thursday - The Great Empathy Tune-up II: 5 Strategies to Raise Caring Kids
***************************************************************************************************************
Teens today are 40 percent less empathetic than they were thirty years ago. Why is a lack of empathy—along with the self-absorption epidemic Dr. Michele Borba calls the Selfie Syndrome—so dangerous? First, it hurts kids’ academic performance and leads to bullying behaviors. Also, it correlates with more cheating and less resilience. And once children grow up, it hampers their ability to collaborate, innovate and problem-solve—all must-have skills for the global economy. The good news? Empathy is a trait that can be taught and nurtured. UnSelfie is a blueprint for parents and educators who want to activate our children’s hearts and shift their focus from I, me, and mine… to we, us, and ours. It’s time to include “empathy” in our parenting and teaching! UnSelfie will be available tomorrow, June 7th at amazon.com
[…] and survive in today’s new world. But before you begin, if you haven’t already, take Part I’s EMPATHY QUIZ and answer the question – HOW EMPATHETIC ARE YOUR KIDS? Then you can use the five […]