We also want to use this moment to champion the importance of empathy – a word we often use in early years. We translate it as kindness when we use it with the children – “Be kind”, “That was kind”.
For adults, it is much more about being able to walk in someone else’s shoes, seeing things from another person’s perspective and being able to respond appropriately. It’s central to people’s emotional intelligence and I think it is essential to leadership success.
Empathy is shaped by a range of factors, genetics, temperament and environment. The harmonious relationships we create in the early years are essential because children learn empathy through experiencing their own secure loving relationships, social referencing and imitating adults’ gestures and facial expressions. So, stop snarling!
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