Empathy is an important trait that should be developed in children from an early age. Teaching empathy can help kids understand and appreciate the feelings and perspectives of others. But, as a parent, how can you teach empathy to your children? One of the most effective ways is through printable activities that are both engaging and educational. In this blog post, we’ll explore 5 printable activities to teach empathy that you can easily download and use with your kids at home.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links.
What is Empathy?
Before we dive into the activities, let’s take a look at what empathy actually is. It’s important to explain the concept of empathy in simple terms so that kids can understand it.
Empathy is the ability to feel and understand another person’s emotions and experiences, without judgment. We all have our own unique perspectives, but empathy helps us connect with and appreciate each other’s differences.
When does Empathy Development Begin?
Empathy development begins in infancy and continues throughout childhood. For example, babies as young as six months can show distress when they hear a stranger’s cries.
By the age of four, kids can understand another’s feelings even when it is expressed differently than their own. While each child develops empathy at different rates, it’s important to provide opportunities for them to practice this skill from an early age.
Why is it Important to Teach Empathy?
Teaching empathy has many benefits. It helps children develop emotional intelligence, which is the ability to identify and manage their own emotions as well as recognize and respond appropriately to the feelings of others. Additionally, teaching empathy can help kids become more compassionate and understanding individuals who are better able to resolve conflicts peacefully.
Now that we’ve discussed what empathy is and why it’s important for kids to learn, let’s look at five printable activities you can use to teach this valuable skill.
Printable Activities for Teaching Empathy:
Emotion Matching Game
This printable activity is a fun way to help your child identify and recognize different emotions. The game includes a set of cards with pictures of faces displaying different emotions.
Your child can match the emotions to the corresponding word, or you can use the cards for a memory game. By playing this game, your child will be able to understand that people experience different emotions and that it’s important to be empathetic toward those emotions.
Check out Childhood 101 for a set of free Emotion matching cards and some game ideas
Kindness Bingo
This printable activity includes a bingo board with different kindness activities. For example, “give someone a compliment” or “help someone carry their groceries”.
When your child completes a task, they can mark off the corresponding box. By doing these acts of kindness, your child will learn that small actions can have a big impact on people’s lives.
Made With Happy has a great free Random Acts of Kindness Bingo Card You Can Get Free
Kindness Coloring Pages
Coloring is a great way to help children relax and express their creativity. You can download printable kindness coloring pages that feature characters doing good deeds and displaying kind behavior.
As your child colors, talk to them about how the characters are compassionate and understanding towards others. This will help reinforce the idea of empathy in their minds.
I have created some kindness coloring pages for you to download and use for free here
Emotion Charades
Playing charades is an interactive way for children to practice empathy. You can download a printable list of emotions and have your child act out each emotion in front of the group.
As your child acts out the different emotions, discuss how those feelings might be expressed in everyday life and why it’s important to be empathetic towards them.
Get a set of Emotions Charades cards from Everybody is a Genius
I Can Draw Feelings
This printable activity includes a list of feelings for your child to draw. Encourage them to use different colors to express how they feel about the emotion.
You can also ask them questions about why they chose certain colors. By doing this, it will help your child identify their own emotions as well as recognize and understand those of others.
Get a fun Emotions Drawing Worksheet for free from Nifty Class
Tips for Teaching Empathy
1. Lead by Example. As a parent, you are your child’s greatest role model. Demonstrate empathy in your own life by being patient and understanding with them and with others.
2. Offer Opportunities to Practice. Give your child opportunities to practice empathy such as helping another person in need or listening to someone’s story and trying to understand their point of view.
3. Encourage Open Dialogue. Ask your child questions about how they feel or what they think about different situations so that they can learn how to express themselves without fear of judgment.
More Activities to Teach Empathy
In addition to the printable activities mentioned above, there are some fun and engaging ways to teach empathy that don’t require any special materials. Here are a few to try:
1. Watch Movies and Discuss Empathy. Pick a movie or TV show that features characters showing empathy and talk to your child about how the characters respond to different situations. Ask your child how they might react in a similar situation and why it’s important to be understanding of others.
2. Teach Conflict Resolution Skills. Role-play different scenarios with your child such as two people arguing over a toy or two friends who disagreed. Talk to them about ways that each person can come up with solutions without getting angry or hurtful.
3. Play Team Building Games. Playing cooperative games such as Charades or Pictionary will help children learn how to collaborate while also practicing their empathy skills.
4. Take a Nature Walk and Talk About Empathy. Going on a nature walk is a great way to explore the world around us and have meaningful conversations with your child about how everything is connected to the environment. Talk to them about how we can show respect for our surroundings by being mindful of our actions and considerate of others.
Books to Teach Empathy
In addition to activities, there are some wonderful books that can help teach empathy. Here are a few of our favorites:
This book tells the story of Auggie, a young boy with facial differences who is struggling to fit in at school. Through Auggie’s journey, readers learn about the importance of kindness and understanding towards others, no matter what they look like or how they act.
2. The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig
This book follows Brian, an invisible boy in his class who struggles to make friends until one classmate reaches out and befriends him. Through this friendship, both Brian and his new friend learn that everyone has something special to offer and that it’s important to be kind and supportive of others.
3. Have You Filled a Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud
This book uses the concept of an invisible bucket to demonstrate how small acts of kindness can have a big impact on people’s lives. Reading this book will help children learn how they can make others feel good by simply showing empathy and understanding toward them.
Teaching empathy to your children is an important way to help them develop positive relationships with others. By using printable activities, you can make learning empathy fun and engaging. From emotion matching to role-playing scenarios and community service activities, there are plenty of different ways you can encourage your child to be empathetic. Try these 5 printable activities to teach empathy and see how they positively impact your child’s emotional growth and overall well-being.