5 Ways to Teach Your Children Compassion

Compassion can be defined as “sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others.” Or in regular words, compassion is caring for others. Caring for others regardless of their looks, religion, beliefs, sexual orientation, gender, or race. Compassion doesn’t mean you have the same beliefs as someone else or that you agree with their lifestyle, but it means that you respect them as a human being.

In light of the shootings in Orlando I think it is important that as parents we all take a look at what we are teaching our children. Children are our future so it is our responsibility as parents to make sure that we are instilling compassion in our child.

Luckily teaching compassion to your child is fairly simple and something you can implement into your everyday life seamlessly.

Role model Compassion. One of the best ways to teach your children compassion is by showing them you are a compassionate person. Your children pick up on everything you do and say, so be mindful of what you are modeling for them. Use your manners. Help others. Manage your anger. Show your child random acts of kindness.

Read Books that Model it. Books are one of the best ways you can teach life lessons to your children. Choose books that have characters who are different from them. Or books that show children showing compassion to others.

Volunteer with your children. Get your children in the habit of doing for others and helping out those that are needy. This alone will teach your children a world of compassion.

Discuss compassion with your children. Talk to your children. Don’t assume they know what compassion means. Talk about scenarios with them. Talk about others differences with them. Express how important it is that we accept people for who they are and how they treat us, not their beliefs, race, gender, or sexual orientation.

Show them a world other than theirs. Let them experience people that are different from what they normally experience. That way when children are faced with people who look different from them or have different beliefs than them they do not feel so shocked. Take away the fear of the unknown!