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Encouraging Empathy in Kids: How to Teach Your Child to Be an Includer by Kelli Porcaro

March 12, 2021

Encouraging Empathy in Kids: How to Teach Your Child to Be an Includer

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With all the stress and pressure our kids face today, it’s never too early to help them begin to learn how to empathize with their peers. Being an INCLUDER is one way to do that. So what is an INCLUDER? An INCLUDER is:

The first warm face you meet when you walk into an event alone.

The person who notices you standing just outside the circle and gets everyone to take one step back.

The person who introduces you to others with similar interests.

The person who makes you feel a little less invisible.

There are many ways to encourage being an INCLUDER. Here are just a few:

Help your child notice when someone is excluded.
Ask, “How do you think they are feeling right now?”
Ask, "What can you do to make a difference?"

It's never too early to start!

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Donna John

This is great, Kelli Schulte! The word would be a better place if we were all INCLUDERS!

Like Reply 9 years ago

Thanks Donna John! So true...small steps can make HUGE ripples.

Elisa Schmitz

I absolutely love this tip. We need to raise our kids with this mindset so hopefully the next generation will be one of includers. Nothing we need more than that right now, Kelli Schulte and Donna John!

I agree 100%, @elisa.

Christine Jones

Love this Kelli Schulte! The list of ways to encourage being an includer are really helpful!

ZZSMAMA

I've been an outsider before, so I have learned to be an includer. I'm naturally outgoing and look for the shy people. My kids are the same way. It's good to know we are part of a great group!

ZZSMAMA Elisa All 30SecondMom Chrissy Jones It's amazing (and I guess scary) what our kids pick up from us just by watching! My kids used to be part of a student leadership team at church that watched for new kids coming into the youth group and welcomed them in. Their job was to connect and introduce them to other kids. Months later, or sometimes years later, those same kids would talk about what an impact that made. For most, it was a deciding factor to come back next week. Feeling connected and sense of belonging is such a strong yearning for us. We need includers in our world!

Thank you for the great feedback, @ZZSMAMA. That's so wonderful! Kelli Schulte - this tip is so powerful. Thank you for sharing!

Michael Kennedy

I am still new to 30Seconds but am happy to see older pieces like this pop up in features. It's still so relevant and we all need these type of reminders as adults and for our children. I work a lot with Special Olympics and share their inclusion messages regularly with kids. This is spot on. Thank you!

Like Reply 8 years ago

Mike Prochaska

Agree 110 percent! Number one thing teach kids is empathy

Like Reply 5 years ago

We just spoke about this on our podcast! I'll do a recap and site the article :)

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