Learning by H.E.A.R.T: Young Children and Empathy
This week I decided to look into the empathy aspect of the Learning by H.E.A.R.T challenges. Empathy is defined as the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. The article I read, What Stealing Cookies Teaches Us About Young Children and Empathy, talks about how analyzing children and the concept of stealing cookies can show their empathy. The study included showing young children a scene where a puppet steals their cookies and also a scene where one puppet cries out when another steals his marbles. The experimenters recorded that the children, not only felt bad for losing their cookies, but also felt sorry for the puppet that had his marbles stolen. The three-year olds would attempt to give back the stolen marbles, if they were given the chance. This shows a lot about how, even the youngest kids, can feel empathy towards others.
(Puppets. Source: Wikimedia Commons)
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