Many parents wonder when they should start teaching their children to listen and understand. In fact, this social emotional skill can be nurtured from the beginning of life if parents provide proper guidance.
From 18 to 24 months old
At this age, children are able to recognize simple emotions such as sadness, joy, and fear through the faces and behavior of others. This is the initial foundation for forming empathy.
From 2 years old and above, parents can teach their children how to respond to emotions such as " Are you okay?", "Why is she sad?",,... through stories, paintings or everyday situations.
From 4 to 6 years old
With this age group, children begin to understand that others have their own thoughts and emotions. This is the ideal time to develop proactive listening skills such as: looking at the person speaking, not interrupting, asking clearly,...
Children aged 6 and over can learn to respond positively and know how to put themselves in the shoes of others.
Researchers at Harvard University believe that parents are the ideal model to teach children to listen and share their daily emotions. The Roots of empathy program in Canada also affirms: teaching children empathy early helps increase communication skills, reduce school violence and enhance social cohesion in the classroom.
