Empathy

 

January - Empathy

 

This month we are talking about the social-emotional skill of Empathy. We are using this definition at school:

 

Empathy: the ability to understand and connect to the feelings of another.

 

Empathy is a crucial skill for being in community with others and a powerful skill to develop in personal and professional relationships. We are focusing on a few key pieces of Empathy: knowing how we feel (and having language to describe those feelings!), understanding what others are feeling, and listening to others well so that we can connect in more meaningful ways! We will reflect on powerful images that will inspire conversations about emotions, connection, and friendship. We will think about incredible people like authors Arundhati Roy and Maya Angelou have to say about Empathy. We will celebrate what makes us different and find the amazing things that bring us together.

 

Conversation Starters
 

·        How do you know what you are feeling? How can you tell how someone else is feeling?

·        When do you feel most excited? Most upset? Most happy? Most sad?

·        How do you show Empathy towards your friends when they are sad?

·        What are things others might do when they’re sad, worried or frustrated? What might they say?

 

 

Questions You Could Ask

 

·        How do you know what you are feeling? How can you tell how someone else is feeling?

·        When do you feel most excited? Most upset? Most happy? Most sad?

·        How do you show Empathy towards your friends when they are sad?

·        What are things others might do when they’re sad, worried or frustrated? What might they say?