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hildren often interpret the world from a narrow viewpoint, reacting emotionally to situations they don’t fully understand. This can strain friendships, skew judgments, and limit their ability to resolve conflicts. Teaching them to ask, “What might they be feeling?” opens a path toward empathy and fairness, skills essential not only for personal relationships but for roles in leadership, counseling, and diplomacy.

One evening, my daughter came home upset, convinced a friend had wronged her by refusing to share a toy. Instead of validating her anger immediately, I asked her to imagine what her friend might have been feeling. She hesitated, then suggested perhaps her friend was worried about the toy breaking. As she considered this new perspective, her anger softened, and understanding replaced resentment. In that small moment, she learned the transformative power of empathy.

You can build this habit by practicing “perspective swaps” weekly. When your child faces a conflict — whether a playground spat or a news event — invite them to list two reasons why the other person might have acted that way. Role-play these viewpoints together to deepen the experience. Keep an “Empathy Journal” where they reflect on these exercises. Tools like story cards or the “Empathy Guide” app can offer additional prompts. Over time, your child will learn that fairness and compassion are not signs of weakness but marks of true strength and maturity.

TIPS

• Ask “What might they be feeling or thinking?”
• Use disagreements as chances to shift perspective
• Practice with fiction, then real-life
• Model your own perspective-switching
• Praise when they show empathy, even silently

ACTIVITIES

• Role Switch: Act out a disagreement, then switch roles and argue the other side — 10 min
• Side Quest: For a simple conflict (real or fictional), name two reasons the “other side” might feel that way — 10 min
• Story Shift: Rewrite a short story or comic from another character’s viewpoint — 10 min