Expressing that children who learn to empathize are more compassionate, helpful, fair and sharing, experts emphasize that empathy is a taught skill. In order to teach this skill, parents are advised not to hesitate to express their feelings, and to pay attention to their children by listening and listening to their wishes.
Üsküdar University NPİSTANBUL Brain Hospital Specialist Clinical Psychologist Nuran Günana gave important advice on the development of empathy in children.
Empathy is a skill taught
Expressing that empathy in the most general sense is the ability to understand other people's feelings, thoughts and perspectives by isolating oneself from feelings and thoughts, Nuran Günana said that empathy both helps the development of positive self-perception and is an important key to think about how one's behavior can affect the feelings and behaviors of others. he said he was in the role.
Empathy helps build healthy relationships
Expert Clinical Psychologist Nuran Günana said, “Empathy facilitates social relationships and enables people to establish healthy relationships. Empathy is extremely important to children. Children with this skill feel safe and establish strong relationships with people. The ability to empathize is not an innate trait, on the contrary zamIt is a skill that can be taught and learned in an instant ”.
The foundation of empathy is laid in the first years of life
Noting that the foundations of empathy are laid in the first years of life, Nuran Günana emphasized that the relationship between mother and child based on love, interest and affection enables the child to show the same interest and compassion to his environment as well: . It's the same zammental development at the same time positively. "
Value them so they learn to value
Reminding that the first people children take as an example in life are their parents, Nuran Günana emphasized that children also learn about empathy from their parents and social circles. Stating that parents who fulfill their children's emotional needs and respond to their emotions with compassion teach empathy, Nuran Günana said, “When children are given love and affection, their emotional needs are met, their personalities are respected and respected, they feel valued, value others and they show respect ”he said.
Talk to the child
Stating that when the child shares his / her feelings with their parents, listening to the child and not passing it on helps the child to show interest in the thoughts and feelings of the other person, Nuran Günana continued as follows: “If the child shares a problem with his / her parents, focus on the subject without changing the subject, making conversations on it and expressing his feelings. It will increase the child's confidence in their parents as well as enable them to recognize their own feelings. It may be possible to achieve this in all areas of life. For example, it would also be useful to talk about the thoughts and feelings of the characters they see on TV, or to encourage them to imagine how the said characters might feel at any given moment when the story is told. To give an example from daily life, conversations can be made with the child about how the families of people with an important disease around you can think and feel. "
Don't be afraid to express your feelings to him
Saying that many mothers and fathers have difficulty and avoid talking about their own emotions, Nuran Günana stated that this situation causes individuals who have difficulties in emotion management, do not know how to manage the emotions of others and avoid emotional reactions. Stating that it is beneficial to set an example for the child, Nuran Günana said, “The fact that parents express their feelings and thoughts to their children will help the child's empathy development. For example, if the mother and father cannot do an activity that the child wants because they are tired, explaining it to him and telling him how they feel will help support the child in empathy ”.
Help him express his feelings
Saying that it would be beneficial to help the child in expressing feelings such as love, anger, anger, jealousy and shame, Nuran Günana stated that it should not be forgotten that these feelings are human and said:
“The better the child can reflect these expressions, the better he can control his behavior. For example, statements such as 'what does it mean to be so angry or so angry with this' to an angry child actually means denying the child's emotion and seeing it as meaningless. Instead, being able to say 'you look very angry right now, I understand' will make it easier for the child to understand and express his emotion. Young children can also benefit from looking at various card games, game themes, magazines or photos. By looking at magazines, cards or photos with facial expressions, the child can be asked what he or she is thinking and how he feels. "
Children who can empathize become more compassionate, helpful, fair and sharing
Stating that gaining positive social behaviors is extremely important for children, Expert Clinical Psychologist Nuran Günana completed her words as follows: “Children with empathy skills tend to be less aggressive, more sharing, compassionate, helpful and treat others more justly. Strong empathy provides children with the awareness that when making decisions about themselves, they should not hurt others and respect the rights of others. This situation also protects children from bad living conditions such as aggression, violence against others, substance abuse, bullying, and negative peer pressure. "
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