Like many things, kindness is a quality that children learn over time and through practice. As a parent, raising your child to be a caring and compassionate individual is always at the forefront of your mind. Thankfully, there are many things you can do to encourage your child to be a kinder and more empathetic person. Empathy is the ability to understand another person’s feelings and is another quality that children develop over time. Parents can encourage and teach empathy as well. Research has shown that the desire to be kind and comfort others comes naturally as if we were born predisposed to be upset when others are hurt.

Here are some ways that you can encourage and teach your child to be caring and compassionate:

1.) Be a Role Model. What you do and say is very important. Let your child catch you in the act of kindness, such as comforting a loved one, or offering to help an elderly neighbor with groceries. Even starting this role-modeling from day one of your child’s life will help lay the foundation of kindness and empathy for a lifetime.

2.) Acknowledge Kindness. Show your child that when you notice someone doing something nice for you. For example, if you and your child are walking into the grocery store and someone holds the door open for you, tell that person thank you and say ‘Wasn’t that nice for him to hold the door open for us?’ to your child. Likewise, if your child treats someone nicely, be sure to acknowledge and praise their effort.

3.) Coach Your Children to be observant of other people’s Facial Expressions. This is the first step in learning how to understand another’s perspective. We are more likely to have empathy and provide comfort to those in need when we can imagine how the world looks from someone else’s point of view.

4.) Show Your Child How to Help People in Need. You can encourage your child to donate old toys they have outgrown or have them help you pick out a couple of toys to give to other children in need.

5.) Be Patient with Them. Kindness and compassion are learned and life presents challenges even to adults. How you handle stressful situations will reflect on them. Being a loving parent and a patient role model will help raise them to be wonderful human beings.