How a Teen Can Promote Empathy in School

It̵7;s not uncommon to say something to your teen and realize that your mother just came out of your mouth. Her words from your own childhood may have an impact on the way you speak to your own teens, especially when it comes to promoting empathy. You̵7;ve probably asked your teen more than once to walk a mile in someone else̵7;s shoes, whether it is to prevent her from judging someone else̵7;s choices or to realize how her words or actions hurt. This is called empathy and teaching your teen to be empathetic will help her promote that empathy in all areas of her life, including school.

Instructions

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      Encourage your teen to promote empathy at school by talking to a bully who is taunting another student. According to the University of Alabama̵7;s parenting assistance line, when empathy is modeled it can help others learn to model it as well. For example, if your teen pulls a bully to the side and empathizes with him by telling him that he understands that the bully is frustrated with his victim and asks him how he would feel if the situation were reversed, it promotes empathy in the bully. This could inspire the bully to change his ways and to apologize to the other student.

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      Promote empathy at school by using empathy to consider how others are feeling and acting on that, which is the kind of advice Joan Simeo Munson, a psychologist writing on the Empowering Parents website, encourages you to give your teen. For example, your teen can invite the new girl at school to sit with her and her friends at lunch as a way of promoting empathy in regard to being the new kid in town. Simply by thinking about how she would feel if she were the new girl and encouraging her friends and peers to do the same, she can promote this kind of empathy at school and make a new friend in the process.

    • 3

      Discuss empathy openly and encourage your teen to do the same around his friends. He can promote empathy in school, in sports and in extracurricular activities by discussing the fact that empathizing with one another is more productive than judging others or dismissing their ideas. For example, say a boy on your teen̵7;s football team isn̵7;t performing up to par in the practices leading up to a big game because he just found out a loved one is very sick. Your teen can promote empathy at this school function by openly discussing with the rest of the team that by empathizing with this boy, they can help him to feel better and potentially play better. He can make his point by asking each teammate to put himself in the other boy̵7;s shoes and consider how he would feel if he just found out someone important to him was very sick. Your teen̵7;s words will likely make him realize he̵7;d feel sad and distracted, and football might not seem as important.

    • 4

      Talk to your teen about approaching a teacher or faculty member at school to start a program or club that promotes empathy. Since practicing empathy can help make the world a better place by allowing others to take the time to understand how everyone feels rather than jumping to conclusions and mistreating others, this kind of club could be of great benefit to your teen̵7;s school. For example, she could ask the principal if the school is willing to support a group of teens whose job is to mentor new kids at school, showing them the ropes to make sure they never feel awkward or scared of being the new kid; a group that helps kids who are out sick by taking their books and homework to them so they̵7;re not behind when they come back to school is another good suggestion.

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