How to Raise a Compassionate Child

Compassion is an important core value that you can teach your child from a young age. It means that your child can understand how to react to different things that happen in front of them. It also teaches your child how to be kind, understanding and caring – essential for your child’s development in being a moral citizen.

To raise a compassionate child, here are some words of wisdom as recommended by this nursery in Surrey.

Role model the act of being compassionate

Being kind, considerate and supportive is going to ultimately shape your child into the person they will be in the future. They also look up to you for support and guidance, so it’s a good time for you to show your child how to express compassion. Lead by example and you will find your child following a lot of what you believe in and enjoy. Flaunt all of those acts of kindness to help your child learn directly from you.

Ask your child what they would do in difficult situations

There will be moments where your child has to face a tough situation, whether it’s between you and your child or something they’re facing in school or among friends. In safe spaces you can ask your child what they think they would do in stressful situations, and how they could approach them. This can act as a form of role play in what your child will do in certain situations, and develop your child’s awareness of different emotions.

Explore identifying different emotions

Compassion might be something your child finds difficult to understand. So pull it back to identifying different emotions to see what they already know. If someone is feeling sad, what should a child learn to express? Showing your child how to recognise these different emotions will help them learn what to do based on other people’s emotions and feelings.

Show your child how proud you are of them

A lot of positivity and support from their own parents is going to already show them how to be compassionate in their own way. Supporting your child throughout all that they do will give them a lot more support and guidance in understanding kindness and compassion, as well as other core moral values.

It’s a good motivation tool for your child to see just how much you care about them already, and it’s a great way to also show them how far they’ve come in their development.

Collaboration.