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Betsy Brown Braun

Child Development and Behavior Specialist. Parent Educator. Best Selling Author

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Circle the Wagons. How children learn to express empathy.

by Betsy Brown Braun on April 29, 2013, under Adolescents, Behavior, Character traits, Child development, Communication, Elementary School Children, Environmental influences, Expectations, Learning, Parent modeling, Parenting, Relationships, Sensitive Topics, Toddlers

Current research on the topic of empathy in children points to likelihood that infants as young as 6 months have the ability to demonstrate empathy.  Whether or how empathy develops as the child grows is a whole different story. Here we go again, nature vs nurture. A recent experience points to an answer.

Shockingly, I recently stared cancer in the face. Even I, the healthiest person I know, did not escape the reach of the Big C.  A totally successful surgery was followed by a less successful post op experience, and I found myself having a second surgery to deal with life threatening complications. Thankfully, all of that is history. And I am well on the mend, but that is not the point.

A professional nurturer, my career is built around helping people. Being in the position of needing help and support was new territory.  As I spiraled downhill, I had no choice. First it was my own adult children who stepped up to the plate. Home they flew, as my husband cut short his Asian business trip and raced to the homestead. Role reversal: they all took over. The second team, all my dear friends, was close behind.  As did the pioneers to protect against danger, they circled the wagons. They buoyed me in a way I have never experienced.

And as word spread, in droves clients far and wide ran to give their support and love—cards, notes, emails, phones calls, errands, a home filled with flowers, a refrigerator spilling chicken soup and fare from the finest eateries, and gifts to pamper a healing body.  The outpouring of love and support was beyond any I could have imagined.  Talk about a show of empathy.

A mom client sent me a lovely handmade card. Included in her well-wishes was the story of her weeping when she read the news of my illness and her son asking what was wrong.  She shared with him the story of Betsy and how sad it made her. Together they made my special card.

While children might be predisposed to being empathetic, it is clear to me that active empathy is cultivated and nurtured when practiced daily in the home.

When your child’s playdate gets canceled, do you assuage his disappointment with an outing to the park? Empathy would be taught by instead making a card or baking a batch of cookies for the sick playmate. The parent who bakes an extra loaf of banana bread for the ill neighbor, the father who includes the child of an absent parent in his family’s weekend outing, the mother who creates a garden bouquet or makes a meal for a grieving family—all model and thereby teach empathy.

 Last week I chatted with the daughter of a dear colleague whose husband just died. I shared how taken I was the awe-inspiring attentiveness shown by her and her brother as Wally was dying, sleeping every night with their mother, taking care of all communications and details for her.  Shana’s reply?  “My mama taught me.”

Can there be any question who is a child’s first teacher of empathy?

: ; modeling empathy, Empathy; Cultivating Empathy; Teaching children empathy; Expressing empathy; Children and empathy, Empathy; Teaching Empathy
7 Comments

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Batsheva Spector says

    April 29, 2013 at 5:38 pm

    Betsy,
    Thank you for this beautiful article and immensely important topic. I didn’t know about your personal journey. I am glad to hear you are well and thank you for this difficult but important lesson you shared and are reminding us of.

  2. Batsheva Spector says

    April 29, 2013 at 5:41 pm

    Thank you, Betsy, for your beautiful lesson you are reminding us of. I wasn’t aware of your personal journey and am glad to hear you are well! Thank you for sharing this intimate yet touching and important message.

  3. Amy Levy says

    April 30, 2013 at 12:40 am

    Betsy,
    So sad to hear of your illness, so glad you are on the mend. Sending you love and strength and empathy as you always send me.

    Love,
    Amy

  4. Patricia Hunter McGrath says

    May 7, 2013 at 9:01 pm

    What a beautiful article Betsy. I will forward to my parents.

    I always hope that the children that we teach at Branches will have great empathy towards all others. I believe that they learn this by carefully observing acts of empathy and having many opportunities to talk through challenging situations with great compassion and thoughtfulness. I believe that all schools should pay close attention to this important feeling. Empathy can’t be taught as a lesson from a book but by modeling and reflective conversations day in day out.

    One day soon our children will be our neighbors, friends and caretakers. Creating a culture of empathy takes great time and commitment from all members of our community but we will all be a little better off if empathy becomes more valued in our culture.

    So sad to hear you were unwell, So happy to hear you are recovering!
    Much Love sent your way.

  5. Betsy BB says

    May 8, 2013 at 1:48 am

    Beautifully and eloquently said, Patricia, as only an expert educator could say it!

  6. Miss Erica from Integrated Child says

    June 14, 2013 at 12:21 am

    As others have already said, this is a beautiful article and a reminder that children learn best through modeling!

  7. Molly Skyar says

    June 17, 2013 at 7:58 pm

    Thanks for sharing your personal story Betsy. I think for some kids they need more help with developing empathy than others. A reader on our site asked a similar question – How can you teach a young child to care more about others? Dr. Susan Rutherford, a Clinical Psychologist and expert in human behavior responded with some helpful tips. Here’s the conversation:

    http://www.conversationswithmymother.com/helping-my-child-care-about-others/

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