Teaching your child to respect people and empathise with them is key to instilling them with a sense of compassion. Starting these lessons early will ensure that they grow up to be a kind and caring individual who is able to build strong relationships. Read on for some advice on how to raise a compassionate child from a private school in Buckinghamshire.
Talk About Feelings
Help your child understand their own feelings and the feelings of others so that they learn to be more considerate. Ask them questions such as “how do you think you made your brother feel when you snatched the toy from him?” or “how might you have felt if that had happened to you?” so that they learn to think about how their actions can affect other people’s feelings. This will help them learn how to empathise and will encourage them to choose kindness.
Take this lesson one step further by focussing on the happiness of others over your child’s happiness. For instance, if they want to quit the football team, ask them to think about their obligation to the other team members before they make a final decision.
Praise Kindness
If you notice your child behaving in a kind or helpful way, be sure to let them know that it made you proud. By praising positive social interactions, you will encourage them to behave the same way in the future. Just be careful that you don’t overdo it with the praise because that could potentially diminish the meaning behind the lessons you’re trying to teach; only praise your child when they truly deserve it.
Celebrate Diversity
Help your child understand that they should respect others regardless of their differences. Try and seek out opportunities where you can have discussions about acceptance and respect. Teach them that no two people are the same, but everyone should be treated as equals, even if they have different religious beliefs or a different skin colour.
Be a Good Role Model
The best way to raise a compassionate child is to demonstrate compassion yourself. Allow your child to witness you being kind or helpful to someone, even if they are a stranger. Perhaps you could offer to help your elderly neighbour with some household chores or donate money to a charity. Try and handle conflict with a calm, respectful demeanour, rather than losing your temper. If your child sees you behaving in this way, they will learn the right ways to behave themselves.