Teaching children empathy through the arts
ListenEmpathy is an essential skill to connect with the people and world around you. It is also so much more than even compassion- to be truly empathetic one has to feel how it might be to be in another’s place. So how can we teach this skill, and how can we simplify it enough to teach bit effectively to children? The most effective way to teach it is experientially- and the most fun way is through the arts. On this Voices in the Family, we will speak with people involved in the film “The Other Side of the Fence”, a musical performed in schools to teach kids empathy experientially, and we will also speak to the founder and the director of Chicago’s Changing Worlds project- a project that goes into schools to provide artistic experiences through which kids can connect to others different than themselves.
Additional Resources:
- Changing Worlds child’s testimonial
- How children describe Changing Worlds
- Andrea Green Music
- On the Other Side of the Fence ( musical)
- Kay Berkson, founder of Changing Worlds
- Mark Rodriguez, Executive Director of Changing Worlds
- Kerri Hanlon
- HMS School
- Germantown Friends School
- Song: (Everybody is) ONE OF A KIND, by Andrea Green
WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.
Brought to you by Voices in the Family
Jefferson University researchers are illuminating a chapel to research the healing power of light
Bitmapped video projections in Ravenhill Chapel are experiments in the healing powers of light.
2 weeks ago
Listen 1:49
New social emotional learning program implemented at Philly’s Independence Mission Schools
The Peace Corners program, from the nonprofit Gabrielle's Wings, provides spaces for children to manage anxiety and learn about themselves at Catholic schools in Philly.
2 months ago
Listen 1:31
School safety: Survey finds most teachers question active shooter drills
A recent survey released by RAND found that teachers don’t feel any safer or more prepared to respond to active shooter incidents after lockdown drills.
2 months ago