Deputy Principal's Report
Fostering Empathy in our Children
Empathy is a skill that needs to be nurtured and taught, rather than assumed to develop naturally. It is important for us to actively instil empathy in our children from a young age. There are many effective ways to teach empathy to primary aged children. Here are our top five:
1. Role-Playing Scenarios
Engage your child in role-playing scenarios where they can step into someone else's shoes and understand different perspectives. For example, you could act out situations where a friend is feeling sad or excluded and encourage your child to respond with kindness and empathy.
2. Reading Children's Books
Children's books are excellent tools for teaching empathy as they often feature relatable characters and emotional storylines. Some titles that are particularly effective include:
- "The Invisible Boy" by Trudy Ludwig
- "Stand in My Shoes: Kids Learning About Empathy" by Bob Sornson
- "You, Me and Empathy: Teaching Children About Empathy, Feelings, Kindness, Compassion, Tolerance and Recognising Bullying Behaviours" by Jayneen Sanders
- “The Notebook Keeper: based on a true story about a family fleeing their country” by Stephen Briseno
- “We’re all Wonders: based on the book Wonder exploring kindness around diversity” by RJ Palacio
- The Giving Tree: teaching children love, kindness and two different perspectives in a relationship” by Shel Silverstei.
3. Encouraging Taking Different Perspectives
Prompt your child to consider how others might be feeling in different situations. Encourage them to ask questions like, "How would you feel if that happened to you?" or "Why do you think they might be feeling that way?" When someone has been unkind, making a statement like“Wow, they must be going through a hard time”, can help w them see that it is something the other person needs to work on and not because of anything they have done. It also creates more of a supportive environment where they are able to react to these situations in a more powerful way.
4. Modelling Empathetic Behaviour
Children learn by example, so it's essential for parents to model empathetic behaviour in their own interactions. Show empathy towards your child, family members and others in your community. Explain your thought process behind your actions.
5. Encouraging Acts of Kindness
Encourage your child to perform acts of kindness towards others, whether it's helping a classmate with their schoolwork or comforting a friend who's upset. Reinforce the positive impact their actions can have on others' feelings. Genuine acts of kindness not only benefits the other person but boosts your own wellbeing as well.
Empathy is not only important for building strong relationships and fostering a sense of community, but also plays a crucial role in emotional intelligence and social development. For children, developing empathy helps them navigate social situations, resolve conflicts peacefully, and form meaningful connections with others. As our children grow into adults, empathy becomes an essential skill for building successful careers, maintaining healthy relationships and contributing positively to society.
By teaching empathy to our children through intentional efforts such as role-playing, reading, and modelling empathetic behaviour, we equip them with a lifelong skill that will serve them well in all aspects of their lives.
Camp, Sports & Excursion Financial Assistance
Please find attached a form to apply for assistance from the Camp, Sports and Excursion Fund (CSEF). Eligibility requirements are attached as well. It is available for Parents who hold a Centrelink Health Care Card and have a CRN number. Once it is completed please return it to Libby in the office before the 23rd May, 2024.
Thanks for all your support,
Peggy McDonald & Steele Anderson
Deputy Principals