Understanding others is a key to good friendship, and helping others is the best of all. It is also an essential social skill that will help children in all types of relationships. Even at a very early age, children could tell and find out when others are in sorrow, distress, but they still must learn how to help others. We, as parents as well as adults can help children learn these skills.
Different Kinds of Helping
Children can help others in various kinds of situations. The most common kinds of help are those that take place every day. Children can be taught to give praise when others do well at what they are doing and thank them when they help. They can also encourage others and take an interest in what other children are doing. All of these kinds of help take place as parts of daily life. For instance, when another child is sad or lonely, helpful children would try to comfort the sad one by thinking of something to do or talking about times when they too were unhappy. Children can help others in many ways, and learning how to help will make them feel and build stronger ties friendship.
Learning to Put Yourself in Others’ Shoes
It is very crucial for children to learn and to understand how to put themselves “in someone else’s shoes” if they are to learn to help others. During the school-age years, children could start to see things from another person’s point-of-view. They start to understand that others may not view things the way they do, and they can think how they would feel if they were in someone else’s situation – in that person’s shoes. Knowing how others are thinking and feeling helps children understand how others may probably need help. For example, when a child sees another child get hurt, he or she can think how it would hurt and understand the need for help.
Teaching Helping
Children also will learn how to help by doing what they see as adults do. When we as an adult help someone else, we could make a point of showing the child how it works when someone is helpful. For example, a little brother or sister might fall off his or her bike and start crying. As we help, talk about how we understand that the child is hurt. Explain our own feelings of distress at seeing someone else get hurt. And as we comfort the crying child, talk about the good feelings we have when we can make others feel better. By sharing our feelings and thoughts, our children can both see and hear about our kindness, and they will have a better idea about how to help. We may want our children to pay special attention to everyday situations where other children are crying, frustrated, or lonely. These are important times to help.
Totally agree with you.Children can help others in many ways, and learning how to help will make them feel and build stronger ties friendship.Children also will learn how to help by doing what they see as adults do.Great post.