Spending just 15 minutes together (whether it be a walk, cup of coffee, etc.) is all it takes for two strangers to start to feel empathy towards each other.

Here are some ways to help increase empathy in children and adolescents:

1)  Role Playing - There is evidence that role-playing has a positive and significant effect on empathy at all age and that role-playing might even have a positive effect on empathy for those who are merely passively exposed to it via others' actively role playing.

 

2)  Talking About Feelings- Longitudinal studies have found that having conversations with young children that reference feelings predicts their later perspective taking. Beyond simply referring to feelings, caregivers who refer to the "why" behind feelings tended to rear children who are better able to take the perspective of others.

 

3)  Induction and Distancing- Parenting techniques seem to have a significant impact on children's development of cognitive empathy as well. In particular, induction (when a parent refers to the other's perspective, points out their distress, and clarifies that the child's action caused this distress) promotes perspective-taking. Perspective-taking also increases when parents use the technique of distancing, in which caregivers question and challenge the child's viewpoint (versus explicitly explaining logic as with induction).Distancing is a Socratic method that involves questioning, providing counter examples, and creating dissonance within the child's existing perspective, thereby promoting consideration of alternative explanations of the feelings and behaviors of others.

 

4)  Gratitude- Gratitude is also a positive emotion that, as some argue, broadens and builds personal assets such as empathy by increasing an individual's willingness to consider other perspectives. Gratitude may also be effective at inducing empathy via an indirect pathway-reducing personal distress levels. Ask your child to come up with a list of their blessings (things they are grateful for) as well as writing an appreciative letter to someone important in their life. 

 

5)  Mindfulness- Mindfulness involves intentional present-moment awareness without judgement. In youth, there is support for mindfulness having a positive impact on empathy overall, as well as for reducing distress.

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