Building Empathy: Key Questions When Reading Turn Storytime Into a Family Book Club by DoingGoodTogether

Parenting Activities
6 years ago

Building Empathy: Key Questions When Reading Turn Storytime Into a Family Book Club

Making time and space to read together is the most effective way to nurture compassion. A good book invites you to see the world from another point of view, the key to strengthening empathy muscles. You can deepen this impact by asking a question or two after each story. If you follow your children's lead and encourage them to think deeply, you'll find almost any book will start a big-hearted, empathy-building conversation. 

Some days, this may lead to a super-silly โ€œwhat ifโ€ conversation. Other days, you may find yourself answering big questions about hunger or hurt or loneliness. Encourage this reflection. Follow their lead. And enjoy these thoughtful family moments.

  • What challenge was the main character facing?
  • How would you have reacted in that situation?
  • How did the main character(s) feel at key moments throughout the book?
  • How would you have felt at that moment?
  • What do you think about how the main character faced the main conflict?
  • What else could he or she have done?
  • Can you imagine how this story might be different if it were set in a different culture or time?
  • What would you change about this story if you were the author? Let's take a moment to imagine that story.

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Donna John
Love this, DoingGoodTogether ! Great questions and a fun way to get kids talking and thinking. Thanks for sharing!
Elisa Schmitz
What a wonderful family activity, DoingGoodTogether , thank for the the idea! ๐Ÿ˜€
Ann Marie Patitucci
Yes, yes, yes! I love everything about this! Thanks, DoingGoodTogether #raisingreaders

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