How to speak with kids about empathy and friendship
ST. SEBASTIAN CATHOLIC ACADEMY
Kindergarten - 8th Grade. Seats available
applications available on our website.
• Staggered arrival and dismissal
• Fee based after school available for 3K through
grade 5
• challenging curriculum for all children
• frequent cleaning of high-touch surfaces
• temperature checks and health screening
• highly qualified teaching staff
• air-conditioned classrooms
• FREE after school for grades 6-8.
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | AUG. 20 - AUG. 26, 2021 29
We’re living in a time
when kindness goes a
very long way in demonstrating
our empathy
and friendship to others.
After a turbulent year, young
students are eager to get back
into the classroom and interact
with their peers.
As they continue to navigate
the everyday challenges
of childhood while also keeping
up with the task of understanding
the many changes
occurring in the world today,
young students must be reminded
of the importance of
kindness in their interactions
with others.
This summer, promote
kindness within the academic
and social lives of your child
by encouraging the communication
of empathy and the
building of friendship.
The importance of developing
empathy and friendship
building skills
Empathy and friendship
are just two of the many ways
in which humans communicate
and interact with the
people and things closest to
them—it’s how we show one
another we care. Depending
on a wide range of factors,
children may find it easy to
interact with their peers and
build meaningful relationships.
For others, friendship
building and other significant
social skills may come
less naturally. But that’s okay,
because families can work
together to give children the
communication tools they
need to effectively convey
their empathy toward others
and strengthen their friendship
building skills.
How to strengthen to the
communication of empathy
and friendship in your child
In order to help your child
interact comfortably with
their peers at school and in the
widest range of social environments
as possible, you can promote
the spread of kindness to
your child right at home.
• Maintain a parent-child
relationship built upon a foundation
of love and security to
make your child feel more comfortable
trusting and communicating
with others.
• Talk about feelings at
home to teach your child that
vulnerability and sensitivity
are positive characteristics
that contribute to healthier relationships
with others.
• Read stories that teach lessons
about friendship to provide
your child with context for
the importance of these issues.
• Practice validation when
interacting with children to
ensure they understand the importance
of feelings—both their
own and those of others.
• Remain patient throughout
the process of teaching
these important lessons to your
child. He or she will learn to
practice patience with others,
as a result.
When teaching your child
about the importance of empathy
and friendship, as well
as the ways in which we can
effectively communicate with
others in meaningful, powerful
ways, it’s important
to invite him or her into the
process by using reflection as
a means of unpacking the important
life lessons you will
learn together on this journey.
— Courtesy of Catholic
Schools of Brooklyn and
Queens
Photo via Getty Images
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
Serving the Parishes of Queen of Angels, BVM Help of Christians, St. Teresa, and St. Sebastian
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!
our a
VIRTUAL TOUR
stsebastianacademy.org
contact us at
ssspka@stsebastianacademy.org
718-429-1982 ext 134
rsal
l
be eligible for
tuition assistance
/stsebastianacademy.org
/QNS.COM
link
link
