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When parents think about learning for young children, they often assume we’re talking about developmental or academic skills. But empathy is also an incredibly important skill for young children to develop, and it’s something that can be taught, both in the classroom and at home.&nbsp;



Empathy is the capacity to look at something from a different perspective, and to understand how someone else may be feeling in any given moment. Children who develop empathy at a young age are more inclined to act ethically as they grow older, create strong, loving relationships, and <a href="https://vivvi.com/blog/family/articles/cultural-awareness-for-kids-how-to-teach-kids-about-diversity">value diversity</a> and perspectives that may not be their own.&nbsp;



Empathy is an important part of the Vivvi curriculum, says Rachel Duda, Vivvi’s VP of Learning. “If we want to grow our children into kind, compassionate adults, we need to teach and model empathy from the youngest of ages. But like all other skills, empathy takes practice, and the more practice your child has, the more empathetic they will become.”



Here are a few strategies to teach empathy to young children:



<ul>
<li>Model empathetic behavior. Kindness matters, from how you treat a restaurant server to how you talk to your partner or other adults in your home. Ask questions to those you meet during the day, and show your child that you are genuinely interested in their answers. Do the same for your child: ask them about their day or how they’re feeling. </li>



<li>Encourage awareness. When you watch a movie or read a book, or see a situation play out at the park, ask your child “How do you think they feel?” While reading books ask,” What do the characters think, believe, want, or feel? And how do we know it?”</li>



<li>Look for clues. Tell your child to look at the other person’s face or their actions to give them clues about how the other person feels.</li>



<li>Describe and label. Help your child recognize their body and emotions. “Your hands are in fists. You stomped your feet. Your voice is loud. You seem angry.”  Engage children in conversations about the cause and effect of emotions. </li>



<li>Help children discover what they have in common with others. Humans are more empathetic to people when they perceive the person to be similar or familiar. Help children to see how they connect to others.&nbsp;</li>



<li>Act out emotions. Have children imitate different facial expressions to experience the associated emotion. Show them what a sad face looks like and have them try it out. Take a picture of them making the face and print them out to create a feelings book or build an <a href="https://vivvi.com/blog/family/articles/why-use-emotions-chart-for-kids">emotions chart</a>. </li>



<li>Use pretend play. Talk about feelings and empathy while you play. Use puppets to play out different scenarios, or <a href="https://vivvi.com/blog/family/articles/what-your-child-learns-through-dress-up-play">try dress-up play</a> to allow your child to try on a different character. When children have the opportunity to “try something out,” they internalize the associated emotion. </li>



<li>Rethink “Say you’re sorry.” We often insist that our children say “I’m sorry” as a way for them to take responsibility for their actions. But many young children don’t fully understand what these words mean. While it may feel “right” for them to say “I’m sorry,” it doesn’t necessarily help young children learn empathy. A more meaningful approach can be to help children focus on the other person’s feelings: “Mack, look at Dash he’s very sad. He’s crying. He’s holding his arm where you pushed him. That hurt, let’s see if he is okay. What can we do to make Dash feel better?” This helps children make the connection between the action and the reaction.</li>



<li>Read a book. Some of our favorite books that teach about empathy include <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Big-Umbrella-Amy-June-Bates/dp/1534406581/ref=as_li_ss_tl?keywords=the+big+umbrella&amp;qid=1565698264&amp;s=gateway&amp;sr=8-4&amp;linkCode=sl1&amp;tag=nurtureandt0b-20&amp;linkId=7b1246850bf8c5ae124239f7386e16a6&amp;language=en_US&amp;asin=1534406581&amp;revisionId=&amp;format=4&amp;depth=1">The Big Umbrella</a>; <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Peace-Offering-Annette-LeBox/dp/0803740913/ref=as_li_ss_tl?crid=JBWXL9AEPLT1&amp;keywords=peace+is+an+offering&amp;qid=1565697735&amp;s=gateway&amp;sprefix=peace+is+an+,aps,146&amp;sr=8-1&amp;linkCode=sl1&amp;tag=nurtureandt0b-20&amp;linkId=892c9e2c16349b6b4d80259d0cf5b1ba&amp;language=en_US">Peace is an offering</a>; <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Feelings-Reading-Rainbow-Book-Aliki/dp/068806518X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3NYH19645310C&amp;keywords=feelings+by+aliki&amp;qid=1667854243&amp;sprefix=feelings+by+al%2Caps%2C85&amp;sr=8-1">Feelings by Aliki</a>; <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Feelings-Book-Todd-Parr/dp/0316012491/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2G4VQTUOPRXIV&amp;keywords=the+feelings+book+todd+parr&amp;qid=1667854291&amp;sprefix=the+feelings+book%2Caps%2C77&amp;sr=8-1">The Feelings Book by Todd Parr</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Baby-Faces-DK/dp/0789436507/ref=sr_1_1?crid=GIYOGYDAXXBK&amp;keywords=baby+faces+board+book&amp;qid=1667854329&amp;sprefix=baby+faces%2Caps%2C79&amp;sr=8-1">Baby Faces Board Book</a>.</li>
</ul>

Empathy is an important skill for young children to develop, and it’s something that can be taught, both in the classroom and at home. 

Strategies for Teaching Empathy to Children

How to Teach Empathy to Young Children

While many adults associate Halloween with the nostalgic fun of their youth, for young children, Halloween can be an overwhelming and overstimulating experience. 



“Dressing up in costumes, being out at night, and asking strangers for candy are all things that are definitely out of routine for young children,” explains Vivvi’s VP of Learning Rachel Duda.



That doesn’t mean that Halloween is off-limits for your family. With a little preparation, Halloween can be an exciting night for even the littlest trick or treaters. So brush off that adorable costume and check out our best tips to prepare young children for Halloween:



<ul><li>Read books about Halloween to prepare your child for what&#8217;s to come. Some of our favorites are <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/28110897-eek-halloween">Eek! Halloween!</a> and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/56753475-halloween-is-coming">Halloween is Coming</a>, which focus not just on the Halloween fun, but also on what a child might expect on Halloween night. </li><li>Let your child practice wearing their costume. <a href="https://vivvi.com/blog/family/articles/what-your-child-learns-through-dress-up-play">Dressing up</a> is not only a fun way to practice pretend play, but a practice run will prevent any uncomfortable surprises on Halloween night. </li><li>Remind your child that this holiday is all about pretend. Use language like &#8220;Did that scary costume make you feel nervous? It&#8217;s okay to feel scared, but it&#8217;s all pretend. Do you have ideas of what would make you feel better?&#8221; </li><li>If your child is younger, start trick or treating early and be home before it gets dark. Nighttime–especially if your child is usually nervous about the dark—can add another level of anxiety to an already high-tension night. </li><li>Don’t force your child to trick or treat. Asking a stranger for candy is definitely out of the routine for a child, especially if they’re in the “stranger-danger” stage or have been taught not to talk to strangers.  </li><li>If you choose to trick or treat, decide on just a few houses to go to, rather than expecting to be out all evening. Part of Halloween is managing grown-up expectations, too! </li><li>Some children may be more comfortable giving out candy at their house or apartment rather than actually trick or treating. This is a great way children can get into the Halloween fun from the safety of their own front door. </li><li>Have a few Halloween games or <a href="https://vivvi.com/blog/benefits-of-arts-and-crafts-for-kids">arts and crafts activities</a> ready to go at home. For some children, that might be more fun and engaging than the act of trick or treating. </li><li>Follow your child&#8217;s lead. If they are excited and ready to go, great! If they are more reserved or anxious, it&#8217;s okay to go home and try again next year.</li></ul>

Halloween can be overwhelming for children. With a little preparation, it can be an exciting night for even the littlest trick or treaters.

Tips to make Halloween less scary for kids.

Preparing Young Children for Halloween￼

Dress-up play is one of the most exciting parts of being a small child. Their big imaginations are on display, trying out new roles and ideas. We hear often that the work of children is play, and it’s so true. When your child is dressing up for make-believe, there is more learning and brain development going on than meets the eye!



As Halloween approaches and costumes make their way through the sewing machine (or through your mail slot, who are we to judge?), we’re thinking a lot about dress-up play, and how in the preschool setting it’s an everyday thing that’s not necessarily relegated to October.



“Dress-up play allows children to dream and use their imagination,” explains Rachel Duda, VP of Learning. “They can pretend to be someone or something they see everyday, like a firefighter, a dog or a mom – or something they find extraordinary, like a storybook character, a princess or a unicorn. Dress-up play reflects children&#8217;s current interests and areas they want to try out.”



This kind of <a href="https://vivvi.com/blog/roleplay-for-kids-benefits">pretend play</a> is essential for little brains. Pretending to be a mama or a baby or a store clerk helps your child understand the roles of those figures in their life.



Think about that for a second: that in itself is a huge deal for a little person. Your child is figuring out how the world works, through dress-up play.



And it’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to all they’re learning through the magic of make-believe. Here are eight ways your child is learning through dress-up.



<ul><li>Imagination / trying on adult roles Whether it’s a firefighter’s jacket, a chef’s hat or a baby carrier, pretending with dress-up clothes gives your child the opportunity to try another role– and nothing is more intriguing than the roles of the grownups in their lives. Dress-up materials act as a visual cue that your child is taking on this new pretend role, and gives them a sense of ownership over their character.</li></ul>



<ul id="block-47e6b907-5f74-4a9e-9862-c67fdc2864f0"><li>Express feelings and ideas using verbal and nonverbal communication In your child’s make-believe game, they’re able to explore different parts of themselves. Maybe one day they want to be a bad guy, but the next a superhero. Their dress-up play can be self-reflective based on how they’re feeling. Their dress-up play can also bolster confidence. Reserved children may discover courage in putting on a pair of butterfly wings and taking on a new role. Pretend play requires a lot of <a href="https://vivvi.com/blog/family/articles/arts-and-crafts-improve-children-communication-skills">verbal communication</a> for little minds to get on the same page about the story they’re building. Children have to be able to explain their ideas and vision for the play. You’ll see this first in nonverbal ways, like children passing a plastic bottle to the child pretending to be the mama. As verbal communication advances, you’ll hear children initiate and direct their own pretend play: “Tomas is the doctor, who needs a checkup?”</li></ul>



<div class="is-layout-flow wp-block-group"><div class="wp-block-group__inner-container">
<ul><li>Solving problems through negotiation with friends Learning to cooperate is a very tough skill that many adults have yet to master, but in Make-Believe Land, little children must find a way to do exactly that if they want to advance the story and continue having fun. Maybe two friends want to be puppies, but two other friends really want to play family. Someone will have to be flexible. Learning to solve problems, especially socially with friends, is a skill that can actually be learned at this young tiny age.</li></ul>
</div></div>



<ul><li>Abstract thinking and improvisation. Through dress-up play with <a href="https://vivvi.com/blog/family/articles/toys-learning-through-play">open-ended toys</a> (think: silk scarves, yarn, paper bags), your child is learning to improvise. Learning to use one thing in a symbolic way to represent something else is a big leap for their brains. Today the silk scarf is a cape, but tomorrow it’ll be a sling for a babydoll.</li></ul>



<div class="is-layout-flow wp-block-group"><div class="wp-block-group__inner-container">
<ul start="3"><li>Participating in role dynamics Learning to participate in make-believe leader / follower roles really helps in understanding how those roles work. Dressing up as a teacher and playing school requires the child being the teacher to take on that leadership role and the other children to listen and participate as students. Similarly, when playing restaurant, a child seated at a table can’t go into the kitchen where the cook is working. They’re learning what their role is in each situation. </li><li>Understanding socially acceptable and unacceptable behavior Children learn so much about how to interact with each other through dress-up and pretend play. Socially acceptable and unacceptable behaviors are heightened in make-believe roles where children are often more comfortable asserting their preferences. That often means they won’t stand for anything they deem unfair, like knocking over towers, ignoring role dynamics or any type of behavior outside of the pretend play at hand that will be disruptive to the game going on. </li><li>Sharing and taking turns Learning to share and take turns are crucial life skills your young children are honing during dress-up time. There’s always a favorite dress-up outfit, and figuring out how to be flexible while another child takes their turn isn’t easy – but it is essential for development. </li><li>Making choices and decisions If you’ve ever felt decision fatigue, you know what a skillset it is to have the ability to make choices and decisions. The building blocks of this skill can be found right here in pretend play. Each time your child steps up to the dress-up rack, they’re forced to decide what role to take on for this playtime session. Will they be a butterfly or a police officer? And what does that role entail? It’s up to your child. They are learning to make choices and decisions.</li></ul>
</div></div>



<h2 style="font-size:20px;font-style:normal;font-weight:400">Want to get started? Here’s Vivvi tips for starting your own dress-up play box:</h2>



<h2 style="font-size:20px;font-style:normal;font-weight:400">Choose a box or bin to fill with a variety of dress-up items. While many of these pieces will have a specific way it must be used (like a firefighter’s hat or a tool belt), you should be sure to include plenty of open-ended pieces that children can use their imagination to bring to life, as well. A scarf can become a cape, a baby sling or the roof to a fort.&nbsp;</h2>



<h2 style="font-size:20px;font-style:normal;font-weight:400">This is the time for them to exercise those abstract thinking muscles! Dress-up play is also a great time for practicing self help skills like putting clothes on and off, zippering, buttoning and snapping.</h2>



<h2 style="font-size:20px;font-style:normal;font-weight:400">Try some of our favorite items! We suggest sunglasses, hats, scarves, costume jewelry, aprons, mismatched socks, bags, glasses, boxes, paper bags, rope or yarn and fabric.&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>

When a child is dressing up for make believe, they’re actually learning too. Find out 8 ways your child learns through dress-up play.

8 ways dress-up play helps a child learn

What Your Child Learns Through Dress-Up Play

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