Kindness and empathy are often referred to as ‘soft’ skills, but at Practical Outcomes we like to call them adaptive skills. Not only are these skills essential to thrive in early childhood education, they’re also powerful building blocks for lifelong wellbeing.
When children learn to recognise others’ feelings and respond with care, they’re developing social-emotional skills that support positive behaviour well into adulthood.
As educators, we play an important role in creating environments where kindness and empathy are modelled, encouraged, and celebrated. Here are some evidence-informed strategies to nurture these qualities in early childhood education.
1. Model the behaviours you want to see
Children learn best by example. Simple acts such as saying “thank you,” offering help, or acknowledging when someone looks upset show children how empathy and kindness look in practice.
Narrating your thought process can also make empathy visible: “I can see Alex is feeling sad because he dropped his toy. I’m going to help him pick it up.”
2. Build emotional literacy
To respond with empathy, children first need to understand their own emotions. Support emotional literacy by naming feelings throughout the day and giving children the words to describe what they’re experiencing.
Books, role play, and visual aids such as feelings charts can be valuable tools to help children identify emotions in themselves and others.
3. Create opportunities for perspective-taking
Encouraging children to step into someone else’s shoes develops empathy in action. As educators, you can use real-life scenarios or storytime discussions to ask open-ended questions to this end.
For example: “How do you think Mia felt when her block tower fell over?” or “What could we do to help?” These reflective conversations help children connect actions with emotions.
4. Reinforce kindness when it happens
When you see a child showing care, acknowledge it specifically. It might be a child offering a toy to share with another child, giving a hug, or providing comfort to a friend. Rather than just going with a general “good job”, reframe your praise to hone in.
An example of this: “That was really kind of you to give Eli the crayon he wanted.” You can even take it another step further by adding “How do you think that made Eli feel?” This is linking the act of kindness with the impact it had, and can help children to understand the value of their actions.
5. Foster a culture of community in the classroom
Environments that prioritise collaboration over competition provide natural opportunities for kindness. Encourage group projects, shared responsibilities, and inclusive games that rely on cooperation rather than individual achievement. When children feel part of a supportive community, empathy and kindness thrive.
Why it matters
Developing kindness and empathy in early childhood isn’t just about creating harmonious learning environments, though it certainly helps. These skills lay the foundation for children to grow into compassionate, socially responsible adults.
In fact, studies consistently demonstrate that children with stronger social-emotional skills are more likely to succeed academically, build positive relationships, and adapt to life’s challenges.
For educators, these adaptive skills are equally crucial. In the care sectors especially, qualities like empathy, patience, and kindness underpin high-quality practice and meaningful connections. By modelling and fostering these traits, educators not only strengthen their own professional toolkit but also help children build the skills that will serve them for life.
At Practical Outcomes, we’re passionate about equipping educators with the skills and knowledge to make this kind of impact. Whether you’re starting your career in early childhood or looking to upskill, our courses support you to create meaningful change in children’s lives.
