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(9 – 13 year olds, pp 55)
There are two main parts to empathy, the emotional and the cognitive. The emotional is the ability to feel for another, and the cognitive is to judge, or evaluate that feeling, as a basis for action. Empathy is central to children having a deeper understanding of themselves and others. It underlies all interpersonal skills and cannot develop without a basic level of self awareness and understanding of other people.
Two factors are central to being empathic:
- Reading another’s thoughts and feelings through observation, discussion and thoughtfulness
- Trying to understand another’s thoughts and feelings by imagining their perspective (walking in their shoes)
Walking in other Shoes takes a comprehensive approach to the teaching of empathy. A book full with insights and activities, and like all Inyahead books, ‘Walking in Other Shoes’ may be used as a stand alone unit of work, or integrated with other programs.
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