Empathy: Exploring the meaning of empathy and kindness (Little Big Chats)
Little Big Chats Series
What’s inside...
This book is part of the 'Little Big Chats' series aimed at helping young readers understand and develop empathy and kindness. Through engaging stories and relatable characters, children are encouraged to recognize their own and others' emotions, fostering a sense of compassion and understanding. It serves as an introduction to empathy, illustrating that empathy is a learned trait that can be nurtured from a young age through modeling, storytelling, and ongoing discussions. The book includes discussion questions for parents, caregivers, and educators to facilitate conversations on tough topics using children's picture books. Suitable for ages 2 to 6, the book is one of 12 in the series and addresses crucial topics that can be discussed in an age-appropriate manner.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
2-6
Length
22 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What does empathy mean to you after reading this book?
Can you think of a time when someone showed you empathy? How did it make you feel?
Why is it important to be kind to others, even when it’s hard?
How can you show empathy to your friends or family this week?
What are some ways you can help someone who is feeling sad or upset?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use personal stories or examples to illustrate the concepts of empathy and kindness while discussing the questions.
Encourage your child to express their feelings and thoughts without interruption, showing empathy as you engage with them.
Praise your child for thoughtful responses and insights to reinforce their understanding and application of empathy.
Relate the book's scenarios to real-life situations your child might encounter to help them connect with the material.
End the conversation by summarizing the key takeaway about the importance of empathy and kindness, and how they can make a difference in everyday life.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Understanding Empathy
Explanation: The book uses relatable scenarios to illustrate how characters feel and react to various situations, helping children grasp the concept of empathy.
Real-World Application: Children learn to recognize emotions in others and respond compassionately in real-life situations, such as comforting a friend who is upset.
Example Lesson: Importance of Kindness
Explanation: Through the interactions between characters, children see the positive outcomes that kindness can bring about.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to practice acts of kindness in daily activities, like sharing toys or helping a sibling.
Example Lesson: Respecting Differences
Explanation: The story showcases characters from diverse backgrounds, teaching children to appreciate and respect individual differences.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this understanding by embracing diversity in their classrooms and communities, promoting inclusivity.
Example Lesson: Developing Listening Skills
Explanation: Characters in the book model active listening, which is a key component of showing empathy.
Real-World Application: Children are encouraged to listen attentively to others' thoughts and feelings, which can enhance communication and relationships at school and home.
Example Lesson: Problem-Solving with Others
Explanation: The narrative demonstrates how characters work together to solve problems, emphasizing collaborative solutions.
Real-World Application: This lesson can be applied when children engage in group activities or conflicts, learning to cooperate and find mutual solutions.