What is EMPATHY?

It's the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person or living being.

Although some people may believe that empathy is an innate trait (something you're born with), empathy can be taught.  I read a book this summer called "Unselfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our All-About-Me World" by Michele Borba, Ed.D., which highlighted crucial messages and lessons for parents and adults to impart to our future generations.  How can we teach eampthy?  One way was to read books that cultivate empathetic reactions. 

Here are some books that you can read with your child:

 "Charlotte's Web" by E. B. White

"Ramona the Pest" by Beverly Cleary

"Alexander's Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" by Judith Voirst

"Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon" by Patty Lovell

"The Selfish Crocodile" by Faustin Charles

"The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein

"My Mouth is a Volcano" by Julia Cook

"A Bad Case of the Tattle Tongue" by Julia Cook

Here are some questions that can be applied to any these books that involve character conflict or struggles:

1. How do you think this character is feeling?  How can you tell?

2. What would YOU do in his/her situation?

3. If you were the character's friend, what advice would you give him/her or how would you help?

4. *Parents and Guardians -- remember to share YOUR feelings about the storybook characters with your child.  When you share, you'd be surprise at what your child might say.

Click on the this link below to read more about the attitudes and behaviors of children and reading.

http://www.scholastic.com/readingreport/