Resources to Teach Empathy (Part 2)

Earlier this month I posted “7 Tips to Teach Empathy,” where I discussed the importance of empathy and how we have started teaching this value to our toddler. Empathy is a complex emotion for a toddler (and some adults) but the foundation starts during early childhood.

When researching “7 Tips to Teach Empathy,” I ran into so many great resources. Also, I had great conversation and shared ideas with our local experts Patti, Michael, and Cathy at East Childcare Resource & Referral Center.

Following is a categorized breakdown and description of resources for children, parents, and educators (note: the lists are ordered by preference and a (*) indicates that you can find them at Knox County Libraries!):

Our Personal FAVORITE Reading List:

These books are for readers 0-8 and will help make it easier to illustrate empathy–they celebrate the journey to find oneself, friendship, uniqueness, and the importance of caring for one another.

• Llama Llama and the Bully Goat (Anna Dewdney): this book teaches the warning signs of a bully, healthy confrontation, and alternatives to being mean.*
• Tyrannosaurus Wrecks (Sudipta Bardan-Quallen): this is a new favorite that is all about a clumsy dinosaur and how he seeks acceptance…great illustrations!*
• Little Blue Truck (Alice Shertle): this classic teaches the value of lending a helping hand.*
• Snuggle the Baby (Sara Gillingham): a perfect interactive book to teach how to care for someone smaller.
• Bad Bye, Good Bye (Deborah Underwood): an odd inclusion on the list, but my kid struggles with the main character as he copes with grief due to moving cross country. *
• Gaston ( Kelly DiPucchio): a bulldog and poodle learn that family is about love, not appearances*
• Hug Machine (Scott Campbell): all about a little boy hugs everything!
• Taking a Bath with the Dog and Other Things That Make Me Happy (Scott Menchin): a book that will help your kid(s) explore what makes them smile.
• The Pout Pout Fish (Deborah Diesen): can Pout Pout Fish’s friends turn his frown upside down?
• It’s OK to Make Mistakes (Todd Parr): a quirky book about oddness and how making mistakes is how you learn.*
• Mouse was Mad (Linda Urban): mouse struggles with how to express his anger, seeks advice from forest friends, but in the end learns his own way.*
• I have a Little Problem Said the Bear (Heinz Janisch): a book about how everyone has great advice but no one listens to bear.*
• Are you Ready to Play Outside (Mo Willems): a beginner-reader full of authentic emotions and how opposites can make great friendships.*

PARENTS:

• Roots of Empathy: Changing the World Child by Child (Mary Gordon & Daniel J. Siegel)
• The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind (Daniel J. Siegel &Tina Payne Bryson)*
•  The Whole-Brain Child Workbook: Practical Exercises, Worksheets and Activities to Nurture Developing Minds (Daniel J. Siegel & Tina Payne Bryson)
• Playful Parenting (Lawrence J. Cohen)*
• The Art of Rough Housing: Good Old Fashioned Horseplay and Why Every Kid Needs It (Anthony T. DeBenedet & Lawrence J. Cohen)*
• Born for Love: Why Empathy Is Essential and Endangered (Bruce D. Perry & Maia Szalavitz)
• Emotional Intelligence (Daniel Goleman)*
• Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Life of Boy (Dan Kindlon & Michael Thompson)*
• Real Boys: Rescuing Our Sons from the Myths of Boyhood (William Pollack)*
• Boys Will Be Boys: Breaking the Link Between Masculinity and Violence ( Myriam Miedzian)*

EDUCATORS (and parents,,,):

• East Childcare Resource and Referral: our local resource for childcare referral, public educational resources library, and workshops/events operated by the UT Social Work Office of Research and Public Service. KMB readers interested in referrals, workshops, and events can contact them and mention this post. They would love to hear from you!
• Conscious Discipline and Developing Empathy—Conscious Discipline Skills: website and You Tube Video(s) of renowned educator and author Becky A. Bailey of Conscious Discipline & I Love You Rituals
• Teaching Tolerance: hosted by the Southern Poverty Law Center. This is a great resource to teach diversity and perspectives!
• Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL): is focused on promoting the social emotional development and school readiness of young children birth to age 5.

If you have favorite books, videos, curricula, ideas…please share in the comments. 

I am very interested in continuing learning about this topic for all ages of youth.