Start by explaining empathy in kid-friendly terms: it's understanding and caring about how someone else feels, even if you haven't experienced the same thing. Use examples: noticing a friend looks sad and asking if they're okay, or imagining how nervous someone might feel before a performance. Distinguish empathy (understanding feelings) from sympathy (feeling sorry) and compassion (wanting to help).

Show your child pictures of faces expressing different emotions (happy, sad, angry, surprised, scared, disgusted) or make the faces yourself. Ask them to identify the emotions and guess what might cause someone to feel that way. Talk about body language, tone of voice, and facial expressions as clues to how people feel. Practice reading emotions beyond just 'happy' or 'sad'—explore nuanced feelings like frustrated, disappointed, or excited.

Present simple scenarios and ask your child to imagine how different people involved might feel. Examples: 'Someone's toy breaks—how does the owner feel? How does the person who broke it feel?' or 'A new kid joins your class—how might they feel? How might other kids feel?' Encourage thinking beyond the obvious perspective. Explore how the same situation can feel different to different people based on their experiences or personalities.

Act out situations where someone needs empathy, and practice responding kindly. Examples: friend who lost a game, sibling who feels left out, new classmate eating lunch alone. Let your child try different empathetic responses—asking if they're okay, offering help, inviting them to join, or just listening. Discuss what felt natural and what responses genuinely helped vs. felt awkward. Emphasize that showing empathy doesn't mean fixing the problem, just acknowledging feelings.

Talk about what you learned and how empathy makes relationships better. Discuss times when empathy helped your child feel understood or when lack of empathy hurt. Make a simple commitment to practice empathy daily—noticing how others feel, asking if they're okay, and responding kindly. Remind your child that empathy is a superpower that makes the world kinder, one interaction at a time.