Caring People – 8 Steps To Raising More Compassionate Kids
Want to know what makes caring people? Here are 8 steps to developing compassion in kids and raising caring individuals.
Let’s chat about caring people.
When it comes to qualities we wish to instill in our kids, one that often tops the list is compassion.
I mean, whether we like to admit it or not, every parent secretly worries if their baby could possibly grow up to be the resident school bully (not a proud achievement for any mom!) or a crazy kid with an ice cold heart.
Tolerance and compassion are qualities of fearless people. Paulo Coelho
I think compassion is an important quality in people in general. Shannon Elizabeth
Compassion is a verb. Nhat Hanh
Now for the good news:
While all children are individuals with their own personalities, parents have a tremendous amount of influence.
In fact there are many things a parent can do to teach sensitivity, compassion, and concern for others.
If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion. Dalai Lama
Compassion is to look beyond your own pain, to see the pain of others. Yasmin Mogahed
A compassionate child is a gift to the world.
Here’s how to teach a child how to be more compassionate:
CARING PEOPLE
TIP # 1 – Set a good example.
Demonstrate compassion and your children will mimic your behavior.
Are you compassionate with others?
Or are you harsh and inconsiderate?
Your child looks to you for cues regarding how to behave and view the world.
Be the best example you can be.
- What are the logical conclusions your child would reach from observing how to interact with others?
CARING PEOPLE
TIP # 2 – Point out when others are compassionate.
When you observe someone showing compassion, talk about it with your child.
It can be an event in everyday life or a character in a movie.
It’s as easy as saying, “Wow, the princess is being so nice to that boy. She really cares about his feelings. I bet he likes that.”
CARING PEOPLE
TIP # 3 – Spend time with your child doing things for others.
Take your unneeded clothes to Goodwill and explain the reasons to your child.
Encourage your child to donate toys so less fortunate children can have toys, too.
CARING PEOPLE
TIP # 4 – Encourage your child to help others.
Perhaps you notice your child helping his sister to put her toys away.
Acknowledge it and praise your child.
Behaviors that are rewarded are more likely to reoccur.
CARING PEOPLE
TIP # 5 – Get a pet.
A pet provides an opportunity for a child to take care of another living creature.
Most children love animals and a pet is excellent practice for demonstrating compassion.
Dogs and kids become fast friends and enjoy looking out for each other.
CARING PEOPLE
TIP # 6 – Discuss feelings.
Start a conversation about feelings whenever the opportunity arises.
Share your own feelings too.
Explain how you feel after a bad day or when something good happens.
- How did you feel when mommy told you that it was time for bed?
- How does your brother feel when you take his toys?
- I saw your friend, Alice, crying after school today. What happened?
- How do you feel on Christmas morning?
CARING PEOPLE
7 – Set rules at home that show respect for others.
The behavior you demand at home influences their behavior outside the home.
Set standards at home that encourage compassion. A few ideas include:
- No hitting.
- No name-calling.
- Everyone helps with dinner – setting the table, washing the dishes, and so on.
- Share and take turns.
CARING PEOPLE
TIP # 8 – Assign chores.
Chores provide a sense of responsibility and demonstrate the need to do things for the common good.
Chores help the parents and create a more pleasant home environment for everyone in the family.
Give your child a few chores to do and explain why they’re important.
All in all, compassion is a skill that can be learned and parents have a great responsibility to teach compassion at home.
FYI – Compassion is not always taught at school.
Almost every child can list 25 bad behaviors on command. But schools fail at teaching children how to treat each other.
I encourage you to teach your child to be compassionate to others.
It not only benefits your child, but it also benefits the rest of the world, too.
Take a few minutes each day to teach your child this important skill and mindset of compassion and care.
I promise, you will not regret it!
Compassion is the keen awareness of the interdependence of all things. Thomas Merton
Wherever there is a human in need, there is an opportunity for kindness and to make a difference. Kevin Heath
Look into your own heart; discover what it is that gives you pain. And then refuse, under any circumstance whatsoever, to inflict that pain on anybody else. Karen Armstrong
Sometimes people will hear you better if you speak with a voice of compassion instead of authority. They long to be understood more than to be lectured. Dodinsky
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I’m Frances Vidakovic – a mindset & action coach for quietly ambitious women who want to stop overthinking and finally take aligned action. I help women achieve their goals and follow through on what matters, without sacrificing their sanity or soul.