Comments on: Can you really teach compassion? New study says yes.

By: axel g

axel g — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 16:19:59 +0000

Compassion is such a great source of inspiration.

I believe that everyone knows what’s right and wrong – it’s part of our make up +_+

By: Plozano76

Plozano76 — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 21:00:12 +0000

As a Montessori pre-school teacher, I’ve found that the best way to “teach” compassion is to help children understand that we’re all inter-dependent and part of one big universe. Start with “small” things, like smelling a flower instead of picking it, saving a spider instead of squashing it, and offering help to people in your everyday life. Explain WHY… It’s an investment that will help your child transfer empathy from an unconscious to a conscious behavior.

Yes, children are naturally compassionate and empathetic, but as they grow, it is important that these characteristics be made conscious so that they don’t become buried under the “what’s in it for me” crap that society shovels our way.

By: How You can Call it Curtains on Drama | SPIRITED

How You can Call it Curtains on Drama | SPIRITED — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 02:06:45 +0000

[...] and think. Use good judgement and have compassion for other’s [...]

By: Lisa Wilder

Lisa Wilder — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 14:40:18 +0000

While an orphanage in Peru would certainly be a worthy cause, you don’t have to travel far from home to find a wide array of opportunities to volunteer with kids:

http://kidscare.org/
http://volunteermatch.org
http://dosomething.org
http://blossominternational.org/children.htm – check out the link for a list of suggestions for random acts of kindness for kids

It’s wonderful, Jonathan, that you’re thinking now about how to foster compassion in your daughter.

By: Jenn

Jenn — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 04:46:56 +0000

Love this post (and love the daughter too!)

I’ve got a two-part idea– how about taking her to visit a group of folks who are in need (elderly people who need visitors, or sick kids in a hospital, or shelter animals who need petting and/or cleaning, or helping out at a homeless shelter or residence for young mothers/their kids… etc). And *then* talking with her about some ways for her to continue to help them out, and then helping her to implement that plan.

Perhaps older folks need new books in their library, or the sick kids or young mothers/kids need more toys to play with, or the shelter animals need old towels/blankets for their cages, etc. She could talk to her class or school about what she sees when she goes to volunteer, and tell them what’s needed in that location, and start a collection within her class/school (and perhaps your building/community, too). I’d imagine that going to deliver supplies that she helped to collect, and seeing the gratitude from the recipients first-hand, would go a long way towards helping her understand what compassion and empathy feel like.

By: Okay

Okay — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 20:01:25 +0000

Everyone is making this way more complicated than it needs to be! Just be compassionate towards her and she’ll be compassionate towards others.

By: Friday Roundup | Getting A Life

Friday Roundup | Getting A Life — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 03:37:41 +0000

[...] Fields at Awake @ The Wheel thinks it is possible to teach compassion. Gee, I hope so. I’ve known a few people who could use [...]

By: Hayden Tompkins

Hayden Tompkins — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 18:36:29 +0000

I think this is one of those things that kids pick up through parental example. Parental example and a puppy!

By: Cath Lawson

Cath Lawson — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 18:01:05 +0000

This is good news. It would be nice if they would make this teaching mandatory for all school children.

I just read a story on the news about a 15 year old boy who brutally murdered an innocent young woman because he didn’t like the way she looked.

By: Lisa Gates

Lisa Gates — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 05:01:37 +0000

Great post, great inquiry–thank you.

One discovery I made with my son (who’s now 11) was to stop, honor, and name his feelings as they were occurring. So let’s say he’s 4 years old and we’re on our way out the door in a hurry, and my son is pitching a fit about his untied shoelaces. Rather than rush him into the car and scream at him for making me late, I just stop. And notice. And then say, “oh my, those are some pretty strong feelings your having. Lots of tears and frustration…Yes, it’s frustrating to not be able to tie your shoes…can I help you with that, or do you want to try it again?”

The time it takes to name and model and empathize so far exceeds being late for anything.

2 cents!