Empathy Starts with Noticing
“Does your child notice how other people feel—or mostly focus on themselves?”
Empathy begins with awareness. In UnSelfie, I explain that children must first learn to recognize emotions before they can respond with compassion.
Many children move quickly through their day without slowing down enough to notice how someone else might be feeling. Parents can help by teaching children to pause, observe, and think beyond themselves.
Empathy is not something children simply “have” or “don’t have.” It’s a teachable skill strengthened through everyday practice.
- 01Ask: “What do you think they might be feeling?”
- 02Pause during movies or books to discuss emotions
- 03Model noticing others yourself
Children become more compassionate when they learn to truly see other people.
Empathy starts with noticing.
What Is Character
Character is not something children are born with — it's something they learn, practice, and strengthen over time.
Talking About Character
The most meaningful conversations about character rarely happen during big lectures — they happen in calm, everyday moments.
Character Is a Verb
Knowing what's right is not the same as practicing what's right. Character is a verb, not a noun.
Teach Perspective-Taking
Perspective-taking is one of the strongest builders of empathy. When children learn to think beyond their own experience, they become kinder, more patient, and less reactive.
Model Empathy Daily
The way parents speak to others, respond to stress, and handle disagreements teaches children what compassion looks like in real life.
Empathy Reduces Conflict
Empathy helps children manage conflict because it teaches them to think about how their actions affect others.