There is no doubt that every parent does their best to raise their children with large amounts of love and care. However, it is a common fear that your little one could grow into being one that hits, screams, snatches and has multiple tantrums. Many parents see this as a developmental stage and wait it out until they’re over it. However, it is still possible to teach your child empathy and compassion throughout this phase of their life. The younger you start, the quicker they’ll pick up the values. If you want to raise a compassionate child, now is the time. Here are some tips from an international school in Mill Hill, on how to raise a compassionate child.
Before you teach your child how to be compassionate, it’s important for you to understand what compassion is and where it roots from. Empathy is what allows individuals to understand how others are feeling and be sensitive towards them. Compassion not only allows you to understand how others feel but to act on them too. How can they help this person with their feelings? Sounds like a big thing for a child even though they can pick up these skills and are a lot more intuitive than imagined.
Role play with your child and introduce them to different scenarios that they aren’t so familiar with. This is a great way to determine how your child responds to other people’s emotions and where they may need some guidance on how to be more compassionate.
Be a role model to your child. Children are like sponges; they absorb everything they see and hear. Show your child how it should be done. Be kind and pleasant to those around you. This could be your partner or even the local shopkeeper. Try and control moments of rage and give others the benefit of the doubt.
Encourage your child to help others. Being kind goes a long way. This could be them donating old toys and clothes to those who need it more or even helping you tidy up after dinner. Small acts of kindness are always perceived as compassionate.
Finally, don’t forget to praise your child when they show compassion. Being vocal about it will raise the chances of them being more compassionate over time as they’ll feel a sense of happiness knowing they did something good.
*Collaborative post