Building Empathy in Kids: Lessons from Radical Ray

Hi everyone!

If there’s one skill I wish I could hand out like candy (or lollies, if you're reading from Australia), it would be empathy. Imagine a world where kids not only recognize their own feelings but also understand what others might be going through. Now that’s real magic - and it’s exactly the kind of magic Radical Ray is all about.

When I was driving an elementary school bus for Lebanon City Schools, I had a front-row seat to so many moments of kindness and empathy. I’d watch as one child noticed another sitting alone and scooted over, or when a shy kid worked up the courage to say “good morning” to me as they climbed aboard. Those little moments always tugged at my heart, and they were a big inspiration for Ray’s journey in Radical Ray.

In the book, Ray learns about empathy through his own experiences - whether it’s seeing a classmate struggle, noticing when someone needs a kind word, or simply choosing to listen when someone needs to talk. I love the idea that 'Empathy is like a window. It helps us see into someone else’s world.' And that’s exactly what I hope kids take away from Ray’s story.

How to Teach Empathy to Kids

Helping kids build empathy doesn’t need to be complicated. Here are a few simple ideas that might help:

• Model Empathy: Kids learn by watching. Share your own feelings, show understanding when others express theirs, and talk openly about emotions.

  
  

• Practice Active Listening: Encourage kids to listen not just with their ears but with their hearts. When someone speaks, teach them to pause, think, and respond thoughtfully.

  
  

• Ask “What If?” Questions: These are great for building perspective. “What if your friend had a bad day at home? How might that make them feel?”

  
  

• Celebrate Empathetic Moments: When you see your child showing empathy, no matter how small, acknowledge it. “I noticed how you helped your friend today—that was so kind!”

  
  

One of my favorite analogies is that empathy is like putting on someone else’s shoes. Not just any shoes, though = maybe they’re squishy rain boots, tight soccer cleats, or fancy shoes that look great but give you a blister. By imagining what it feels like to walk in those shoes, kids can better understand what someone else might be going through.

If you’d like more ideas or have your own stories of building empathy with kids, I’d love to hear them. The more we share, the more we can all learn from each other.

And if you need me, I’ll be here practicing empathy... mostly with my little cockapoo, Lottie - who apparently didn’t need to pee while outside but promptly squatted on my cream carpet the second we came back in. 😉

Love, Bobbi x

Get the Radical Ray book here!