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Are our children spoiled? This is often what we fear. However, it is also simple to help them develop their part of generosity, and empathy towards others thanks to a few habits. A psychologist shows us how to do it.
Children require a lot of attention, but they can also learn to give! Generosity would also be an essential quality today, since it is the basis of empathy and the bond with others, so necessary for “living together”. It’s never too early to learn: it is scientifically proven that children aged 15 to 18 months are naturally ready to share their toys with an unknown child. Cultivating this innate quality could therefore be the key to better understanding in a group. But do you know how to do it? In Psychology TodayPamela D. Brown, an American psychologist gives us 4 interesting ideas.
Teach them to identify emotions in others
To learn generosity, the first point comes down to helping your children detect the different emotions and associated behaviors in others, to teach them to “read” the messages sent. Is the other person sad, happy, shy, and how does this translate? Invent role plays, recreate situations and regularly ask the child to imagine how the other person might feel.
Congratulate them on their good deeds
When your child gives to another child or accepts him in his play, do not hesitate to promote the positive effect of his action and the joy of the child with whom he shares. He must feel that it is a beneficial action. “Well done, you shared your cookies and your figurines with your friend. Look how good you feel.” The emotional reward being important for the child, he will be proud of having done well.
Lead by example
Day after day, the children watch us. If you want to encourage good behavior from them, it is therefore essential to work on your own behavior. It is up to you, therefore, to show generosity with your loved ones, to lend a helping hand to your neighbor, or to make donations (to associations, to food banks, etc.), while involving your children in their explain the positive objective of these small everyday actions.
Use play to develop generosity
Finally, using the game itself can be a good way to engage generosity. Either by opting for a collaborative board game, ideal for playing together and sharing your winnings, without being in competition, or by organizing collective games including several children, and emphasizing the importance of lending your toys, of playing with everyone without exception in order to show the importance of accepting others.
Fundamentals that they will undoubtedly carry throughout their childhood and even their lives.
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