Family Values: How to Teach Kids Empathy

Name That Feeling

To help your child become conscious of his own feelings and recognize emotions in others, identify feelings in words. Start with adjectives like “happy,” “sad, “mad,” and “surprised.” Later, expand your child's "feelings" vocabulary to include more subtle words like "disappointed," "hurt," and "proud." Play a game called "feeling faces," in which you make a face, point at yourself, and name the feeling you are trying to convey. Draw simple pictures with these expressions as well, or use placemats or cards (you can buy them online) that teach emotional intelligence.