Our Parenting Alphabet - E for Empathy

Empathy is the ability to understand and share another person’s feelings. It’s more than sympathy—more than just feeling sorry for someone. Empathy is about putting yourself in their shoes and really imagining what it’s like to feel what they feel.

In parenting, empathy means noticing your child’s emotions and letting them know you see them. Simple phrases like “That makes sense” or “I can see why you feel that way” can help children feel understood and safe.

Empathy is also a key part of PACE— the therapeutic parenting model developed by psychologist Dan Hughes, that seeks to create safety and build strong emotional connections with children. PACE combines Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, and Empathy. When we approach children with empathy, we create a safe emotional space where they feel understood, encouraging them to express their feelings and explore the world confidently.

We can also help children develop empathy themselves by:

• Naming emotions: “You seem frustrated that your tower fell.”

• Modelling empathy: Show care and understanding toward others in daily life.

• Asking perspective questions: “I'm wondering how your friend felt?”

• Reflecting feelings back: Acknowledge their emotions first, then gently guide them to consider others’.

  
  

When children experience empathy and practice it themselves, they learn to connect with others, regulate their emotions, and build compassionate relationships.