A cute moment at the preschool today. Do you think empathy is taught? Or just beat out of many people due to bad life experiences?
By The Horse
@TheHorse (205696)
Walnut Creek, California
September 20, 2022 5:07pm CST
My autistic friend Keke was crying this morning because someone had beat him to his favorite Big Truck (about 20" long) and was driving it around outside.
Another of my good friends, Gabriel, saw him and brought him a smaller truck, hoping it would calm him. Gabriel is all of 20-months old. He is an "older" 1-year-old.
Keke rejected the offer, but I praised the younger child for offering the smaller truck to Keke.
The younger child and l are also "attached." He loves throwing things, and I get him to throw soft things when were are inside.
When we are outside, we play catch with a squishy ball.
He is old enough to imitate my behaviors, and I believe he does so, both when it comes to throwing balls and helping sad or angry children by giving them something to soothe them.
But I also believe that "empathy." is something that is in our genetic makeup. It just has to be nurtured.
What are your thoughts on the nature v. nurture of empathy, one of the most basic things I teach?
16 people like this
12 responses
@TheHorse (205696)
• Walnut Creek, California
21 Sep 22
My "girlfriend" Emily is now in Pre-Kindergarten and I miss her. One of the things we would discuss when we talked (when she was four) was "what she was like when she was little." When she was 1 1/2, sitting in my lap with a book, and another toddler wobbled over to join the party, her reaction was very straightforward. She would punch the other child and say "Mine!"
More recently, when we would discuss "the old days." she would say, "I didn't know how to share when I was little. But I do now." I love "intellectual" conversations with 4-year-olds. The become "templates" for later conversations.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (159007)
• Boise, Idaho
20 Sep 22
I have made it a house rule in my house that there is no yelling, throwing, or wrestling inside the house. Those are outdoor activities only.
Empathy needs to be nurtured indeed. It also needs to be seen in adult role modeling.
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@celticeagle (159007)
• Boise, Idaho
23 Sep 22
@TheHorse ........They need to have that in their lives.
@wolfgirl569 (95136)
• Marion, Ohio
21 Sep 22
Some seem more natural than others. But all have it to some degree
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (73408)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
20 Sep 22
That is just wonderful I am glad the child thought of that. Some things come naturally to children but then others are taught right by their parents or grandparents. I remember a very long time ago a Latvian grandma whose grandkids were small then she would teach them when giving something to others not to say here as in here take it but to say please when presenting the item,
2 people like this
@kaylachan (57631)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
20 Sep 22
I do think everyone is capable of it. And, it's natural. It just needs to be encouraged.
2 people like this
@aninditasen (15732)
• Raurkela, India
21 Sep 22
Empathy is something genetic. Not all children have this quality. However empathy can be nutured in a child.
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@LindaOHio (156056)
• United States
21 Sep 22
I think whatever empathy a child has naturally can be heightened by what is taught in the school and at home.
@Nakitakona (56302)
• Philippines
10 Oct 22
Empathy is a word that means "an act of understanding which everyone should practice it.
