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

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 “what if” 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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