collaborative guest post
Compassion is all about being kind and respectful to others, considering their feelings and offering a helping hand where necessary. These are all traits most parents would love to instil in their children from a young age. Here are some tips on how to raise a compassionate child from an independent prep school in Bristol.
Praise Your Child’s Kindness
The best way to encourage compassion is to praise your child whenever you notice them demonstrating kindness or other similar behaviour. Acknowledging when they do things right will encourage them to continue with that same behaviour going forward. However, it’s not enough to say, “well done for sharing your toys with your friend”. Take it one step further and explain to your child why that was a nice thing to do. Help them understand how their actions make other people feel.
Point Out Rudeness
Likewise, if you notice your child treating someone unfavourably, point it out to them. Let them know that you are disappointed in their rudeness and explain how uncomfortable the other person must’ve felt. If you want to raise a compassionate child, they first need to understand why compassion is necessary and how important the way we treat others is.
Model Compassion
As a parent, you are the most influential person in your child’s life. The way you behave will have a massive impact on how they behave. So, where possible, try and model compassion.
Perhaps you have an elderly neighbour who struggles to keep their garden tidy during summer. Why not offer to mow their lawn or trim the hedges? If you have a friend or relative who is unwell, send them a care package or drop off some medicine and other supplies. Essentially, the idea is to show your child how to demonstrate kindness and help those in need.
Provide a Positive Home Environment
If your child is surrounded by negativity all the time, it is likely that their negative attitude will manifest as bad behaviour, such as rudeness or selfishness. On the other hand, if you help them become more optimistic and confident, they might be nicer to others.
Perhaps encourage them to start a gratitude journal, so that they can jot down all of the things they appreciate in life. As a result, they may find it easier to empathise with people who are not quite as lucky as they are. The more content they are in their own life, the more willing they will feel to help others.
