Have you ever wondered where compassion begins?

Often, compassion begins in the home and consequently extends beyond the front door.

However, not all children are born into families where compassion is displayed.

So compassion can be anywhere where love and caring are demonstrated.

Compassion is role-modelled to children. When they feel sad or hurt their loved ones want them to feel better. People who care about them are kind and show compassion.

Through watching others, children learn that compassion is a feeling that leads to an action of helpfulness.

Ask a child, “How do you think it would feel to XYZ”? When you do this they learn to consider what a particular experience would feel like.

As a result, children will discover how to put themselves in others’ shoes.

They realise what the the feeling of empathy is.

When a child can relate to a particular emotion, they are more likely to comprehend how to assist someone else to overcome their pain or sadness.

As their parent or caregiver, you can ask the relevant questions to the child to help them discover these feelings and potential solutions in their mind.

Children are often informed when another child is sad or hurt. Then advised to be kind to that child. This only provides information about another child’s feelings. By asking a child how something would feel, the child gains insight.

Although it takes more time to gently explain a situation, it also a child time to reflect on how they would feel in the same circumstance.

Evidently, this is how people learn best, not just children.

As always, children absorb a great deal by observing the actions of their role models.

It greatly benefits a child if you share your thought processes, allowing a child to gain a deeper comprehension of why you might act in a certain way.

Whether it be preparing a meal for a friend or a neighbour who is having a challenging period.

Compassion strengthens relationships as compassion comes from the heart.

With this in mind, maybe that’s where compassion begins.

Whether it’s the heart or the head that leads to compassionate action it really doesn’t matter where compassion begins. As long as it’s present.

More reasons to help your child learn about compassion is that it enhances their emotional intelligence, fosters resilience and helps them develop strong social skills.

In conclusion, as a child learns about compassion, and every other character trait shared each week, they attract like-minded friends who share the same values that they do.

If you’d like to raise your child with integrity and share a character trait each week please feel free to join our tribe – click the link above.