It is a lesson that many of us, as parents, as educators, hope to pass along to our children. And not merely at certain times of the year or under certain circumstances, but in a way that becomes ingrained in how our children look at and express themselves in the world. I think about the character in the fabulous children’s book, Sofia Valdez, Future Prez, who has an inner drive to help others and make the world around her a better place. She sees the needs of the people in her community and uses her own time and talents to help meet those needs. How do we raise children with those values?

We have written in the past about cultivating empathy in children. First and foremost, we can help children learn empathy by acting as role models. We can talk with children about the choices we make to help others, treat them with kindness, and understand their perspectives. Stories and books are a great, age-appropriate way to dive into how characters relate to one another and to ask your child questions about characters’ motivations and actions.

Check out all the resources from this project here: https://mcc.gse.harvard.edu/resources-for-families

Angie Williams

EFC Marketing Director