Practicing Empathy During Storytime
Everyone has feelings. Trying to understand what people are feeling can help us be kind and show that we care. We can show empathy and compassion. Sometimes people tell us how they are feeling with words, and other times we learn by noticing their facial expressions or body language.
Daniel Tiger often sings, “Think about how someone else is feeling.” One way that children can practice identifying feelings is through storybooks. In this activity, parents, grandparents, and other caregivers can encourage children to pause and look for clues about how a character might be feeling.
As you go through this activity, talk about how knowing how someone feels can help us show empathy and compassion. Empathy is when we try to understand and share how someone else feels. Compassion is when we try to do something kind to show we care and to help them feel better.
Materials
Directions
Talk about ways we might know what someone else is feeling. You might want to play Daniel Tiger’s Guess the Feeling game for practice.
Together, pick a favorite picture book with a story. Make a plan to say “pause” anytime someone sees a clue that might show how a character is feeling. Explain what the word “pause” means if necessary.
Begin reading. As you read, some children might like to follow along with the sentences with their finger. Ask them to turn the pages when it’s time.
Encourage children to listen for details about what’s happening and look carefully at the pictures. Ask, “Do you hear words that help you know how the character is feeling? Do you see a clue in the pictures?” Remind children to call out “pause” when they hear or see a clue.
Anytime during the story, when someone calls out “pause” stop reading and talk about the following questions:
What is the character feeling? Sometimes there may be more than one feeling. Name all you notice. Ask your child if they have ever felt a similar emotion? By comparing our feelings to the character’s feelings, we can better understand and have empathy for the character.
If a character in the story is facing a problem, you can ask what might help the character with the problem or what might help the character feel better. Ask your child if anyone has ever made them feel better? How did someone help them? How did your child feel after they were helped? When we help someone, we are showing compassion.
At the end of the book, take another pause and ask: “How do you think the character is feeling now?”
Explore Further
Encourage children to explore other picture books and pause to practice the skills of empathy and compassion. It’s an extra special way to celebrate reading and spending time together.
For more resources on caregiving, visit the Many Ways to Show You Care collection.
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