Developing empathy

Infants:Babies learn about empathy by the way parents treat them when they are cranky, fussy or frightened.

Toddlers:Toddlers have strong feelings but they are not always capable of identifying or managing those feelings. Caregivers can help children name what they feel and show them how their actions are tied to those strong emotions. In this way, caregivers can lay the groundwork necessary for the child to connect their feelings and actions with those of others as they mature.

Young Children:During this developemental stage learning how to share is a great tool for nurturing empathy. By the time a child is four their cognitive developmetn has progressed enough that they are able to associate their emotions with the feelings of others. before this point, they assumed everyone saw and felt the very same things they did. They are now starting to recognise peoples emotions through observing facial expressions and are beginning to understand the effects their behaviour has on others. The time a child is five they begin to see that people's emotions are similar irrespective of their age, ethnicity or gender.