Empathy - A Deeper Understanding

Empathy is often celebrated as the foundation of emotional intelligence (EQ), and for good reason. However, empathy doesn’t stand alone—it is part of a group of equally important emotional capacities that include sympathy, compassion, and kindness.

It took us a long time to fully grasp empathy, and it became clear to us that it cannot be taught as a standalone skill.

Empathy works best when it’s understood as part of a broader framework of emotional capacities that help children engage meaningfully with the world around them.

This perspective may seem a bit unconventional, but we hope it sparks curiosity and encourages you to rethink how empathy is taught.

This is why we believe Children’s Choice material should focus on teaching empathy in combination with:

Sympathy – Emotional Awareness

Recognizing and feeling concern for someone else’s struggles.

Empathy- Emotional Understanding

Understanding and connecting with others’ emotions.

Compassion – Emotional Motivation

Feeling motivated to help alleviate someone’s suffering.

Kindness – Emotional Action

Turning those emotions into meaningful actions.

By presenting these emotional capacities together, we can provide a comprehensive approach to emotional development. When children learn sympathy, empathy, compassion, and kindness as interconnected capacities, they not only grow emotionally but also help create a kinder, more inclusive world.

This is why we believe teaching empathy alone is not enough, we need to shift our focus to teaching these capacities as a collective, fostering emotional intelligence that moves from understanding to meaningful change.

The goal isn’t just to teach kindness—it’s to help kindness grow. 

When we nurture this journey, we empower our children to become good-hearted individuals and create a more compassionate world.

Download our “Empathy – A Deeper Understanding” Parenting Guide