What is empathy?
What is Empathy?
Empathy means trying understanding how someone else feels and truly caring about how they feel. It’s like putting yourself in someone else’s shoes.
Examples: Someone is crying because they lost their pet, and you sit with them or listen to them.
A classmate is nervous about speaking in front of the class, so you say something encouraging.
Someone is nervous and shy at recess because it's their first day, so you invite them to play.
Name an event or a situation that could cause you to feel angry.
ChatGPT said:
Here are some examples of events or situations that could make you feel angry:
Someone takes your toy without asking
Being teased or bullied by others
Losing a game you really wanted to win
A sibling breaks something of yours
Being treated unfairly by a friend or teacher
Not getting something you were promised
Someone interrupts you when you’re talking
How would you feel if: Someone said that your clothes were ugly.
If someone said your clothes were ugly, you might feel:
Sad – because the comment hurts your feelings
Embarrassed – especially if it happened in front of others
Angry – because it’s mean and unfair
Hurt – because it feels personal
Self-conscious – worried about what others think
A person on your baseball team dropped a fly ball and the other team won the game. How might that person be feeling??!
That person might be feeling:
Sad – because their mistake affected the game
Embarrassed – everyone saw the error
Disappointed – in themselves for dropping the ball
Frustrated – that things didn’t go as planned
Guilty – thinking they let the team down
Your friend received a cool video game for their birthday that you have really wanted. What could you say to show empathy?
"Awesome! You must be so happy!"
"Wow! I’m glad you got it!"
"Nice! That looks fun!"
These are short, easy to say, and show you care about your friend’s feelings even if you wanted the game too.
Why is Empathy important?
Empathy is important for many reasons!! It.....
Helps people feel cared for
Makes friends happy and safe
Stops fights and problems
Helps us be kind to others
Builds strong friendships
Name an event or situation that could make you feel excited.
Here are some examples of events or situations that could make you feel excited:
Going to a birthday party
Opening a present
Going on a vacation or trip
Meeting a favorite celebrity or character
Going to a theme park or zoo
Getting a new pet
Starting a fun new activity or hobby
Playing a favorite game with friends
How would you feel if: your dog ran away from home and you couldn't find them.
If your dog ran away and you couldn’t find them, you might feel:
Sad – because you miss your dog
Worried – about where they are and if they’re safe
Scared – thinking something bad might have happened
Lonely – because your dog isn’t there to play with
Frustrated – because you don’t know what to do
A person is constantly getting teased on the bus for their appearance. How would the person feel??!
That person might feel:
Sad – because teasing can hurt their feelings
Embarrassed – being made fun of in front of others
Angry – at the people who are teasing them
Lonely – feeling left out or different
Worried – about what others think of them
Your classmate forgot their homework at home and they are upset because they lost points. What could you say to show empathy?
"I’m sorry that happened. That must be frustrating."
"Oh no! I know that must feel really upsetting."
"It’s okay, everyone forgets sometimes."
"I understand, losing points is disappointing."
These statements show you are trying to understand their feelings and care about how they feel.
True or False: Empathy only means feeling sorry for someone.
False.
Empathy doesn’t just mean feeling sorry for someone. It means understanding how someone else feels and caring about their feelings.
Name an event or situation that could cause you to feel scared.
Here are some examples of events or situations that could make you feel scared:
Hearing a loud thunderstorm outside
Being home alone in the dark
Seeing a big spider or snake
Getting lost in a store or park
Watching a scary movie
Hearing a strange noise at night
Being on a really high playground slide
Riding a roller coaster for the first time
How would you feel if your friend didn’t invite you to their birthday party but everyone else in your class went?
If your friend didn’t invite you to their birthday party but everyone else went, you might feel:
Sad – because you were left out
Lonely – missing out on fun with friends
Upset – feeling hurt by your friend
Jealous – wishing you were included too
Confused – wondering why you weren’t invited
Jennifer worked hard, won an art competition, and even received an award! How would this person feel??!
Jennifer would probably feel:
Happy – because she won the award
Proud – of her hard work
Excited – about her achievement
Confident – that she can do great things
Accomplished – because her effort paid off
Your sister got grounded because her room is a huge mess. What could you say to show empathy?
"That’s tough! I know you’re upset."
"I get it, being grounded isn’t fun."
"Aw, that must feel unfair."
"I understand, it’s disappointing to get in trouble."
These statements show that you are trying to understand how she might be feeling and care if she is upset.
True or False: Practicing empathy can help you be a better friend.
True!!
Empathy helps you be a better friend because it helps you:
Notice feelings – see when friends are happy, sad, or upset
Be kind – comfort or help them when they need it
Celebrate – be happy with them when something good happens
Solve problems – work things out without hurting each other
In short: Empathy = caring about your friends’ feelings.
Name an event or situation that could cause you to feel jealous.
Here are some examples of events or situations that could make you feel jealous:
Your friend gets a new toy you really wanted
A sibling gets more attention from your parents
Someone else wins a game you wanted to win
A classmate gets a better grade on a test
Your friend gets invited to a party you weren’t invited to
Someone else gets a cool gift before you do
How would you feel if your older sibling, whom you look up to, told you to shut up and that you were "stupid"?
If your older sibling, who you looked up to, told you to shut up and that you were stupid, you might feel:
Hurt – because their words are mean and personal
Sad – feeling disappointed in someone you admire
Angry – because it feels unfair and upsetting
Confused – wondering why they said that
Rejected – feeling unloved or unimportant
A person in your class was chosen to sing a solo in the school musical but they forgot the words when in front of the entire audience. How might this personal feel?
That person might be feeling:
Embarrassed – because everyone saw the mistake
Nervous – about performing again
Sad – because it didn’t go as planned
Disappointed – in themselves for forgetting the words
Worried – that others are judging them
Your friend fell off their bike and scraped their knee. They are crying.
Help them up and make sure they are okay!
You might say:
"Oh no! Are you okay?"
"I’m sorry that happened. That must hurt."
"How can I help you?"
"It’s okay to cry, it must really hurt."
These statements show you care about your friend’s feelings and want to help.
True or false: You can show empathy to someone even if you don’t feel the same way or agree with them.
True!
You can show empathy even if you don’t feel the same. You can still understand how someone feels and care about them, even if you don’t agree.
For example:
Your friend is nervous about speaking in front of the class, so you encourage them, even if you aren’t nervous yourself.
Your brother or sister is upset they didn’t get a turn playing – You got your turn, but you can still say, “I know that feels unfair. It makes sense you would be upset.”
Name an event or situation that could cause you to feel embarrassed.
Here are some examples of events or situations that could make you feel embarrassed:
Tripping and falling in front of your class
Saying the wrong answer out loud
Spilling food or drink on yourself
Forgetting your lines in a play or presentation
Your clothes being inside out or dirty
Being laughed at by others
Getting called on and not knowing the answer
How might you feel if: you had waited all week for your dad to come have lunch with you and he never came.
If you had waited all week for your dad to come have lunch with you and he never came, you might feel:
Sad – because you were looking forward to seeing him
Disappointed – your plan didn’t happen
Lonely – missing his company
Frustrated – because you waited and it didn’t happen
Hurt – feeling like he didn’t care
A person in your class never understands what the teacher is teaching and feels like they aren't as smart as the other students. How might that person be feeling?
That person might be feeling:
Frustrated – because they are having trouble understanding the lesson
Sad – because they feel left out or behind
Embarrassed – because they think others understand better than them
Worried – about what the teacher or classmates think
Discouraged – like they can’t do it no matter how hard they try
Your friend was nervous to read in front of the whole class and started stuttering. Everyone started to laugh. What could you say to show empathy?
"I know it felt scary, but you did great."
"Don’t worry, it happens to everyone."
"I like how you kept going! That was really brave".
"It’s okay, I would have been nervous too."