Our next lifeline to focus on is Empathy!

FamilyConnect
Lifeline: Empathy
Due Date: Wednesday, March 23 (They will be taking paper copies home tomorrow) 

Can we teach kids to care? Well, it’s a big job, but we can start by fostering empathy in our children. Our whole school is focusing on the Lifeline of Empathy this month. Empathy means to understand and experience the feelings of others. To develop empathy, students must be encouraged to become aware of others’ feelings and to see situations from alternate points of view. When we can empathize with the needs of others, we can make the decision to respond in a caring way.

Two steps to teaching empathy
1.)MODEL! MODEL! MODEL!
The more your child(ren) see you demonstrating empathy, the more likely your child(ren) will exhibit similar behaviors.
2.)PRACTICE! PRACTICE! PRACTICE!
Children, like adults, need to practice skills to master them. When you provide your children with experiences that require empathy, you give them opportunities to consider concepts larger than themselves.
Empathy Teaching Tip: Help your child participate in opportunities to help other people such as volunteering at a homeless shelter, soup kitchen, collecting cans for canned food drives, or donating to a worthwhile cause.
Family Task:
This month we are encouraging you to discuss with your child(ren) how your family can show empathy. Brainstorm a list of ways that the family can show empathy and decide how you are going to accomplish it this month. Example: Our family is going to show empathy by helping the homeless people in our community. We are going to donate can goods to the homeless shelter.
Let us know your plan! Please return the family connect sheets!