Although we may say that we value helping others, our students and children are receiving a different message. According to "Why Kids Care More about Achievement than Helping Others", our kids have come to believe that being happy and achieving are more important than caring for those around them. The irony:
"Studies show that kids' ability to feel for others affects their health, wealth and authentic happiness as well as their emotional, social, cognitive development and performance. Empathy activates conscience and moral reasoning, improves happiness, curbs bullying and aggression, enhances kindness and peer inclusiveness, reduces prejudice and racism, promotes heroism and moral courage and boosts relationship satisfaction" (Lahey, 2014).
Read more to find out how to avoid sending the wrong messages; it is clear that telling our kids we want them to be kind, caring people is not enough. Keep leaving your Active Handprints behind by continuing to make the case for programs that engender empathy in your schools and community.
References:
Lahey, J. (2014). Why kids care more about achievement than helping others. The Atlantic. Retrieved from
http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2014/06/most-kids-believe-that-achievement-trumps-empathy/373378/
"Studies show that kids' ability to feel for others affects their health, wealth and authentic happiness as well as their emotional, social, cognitive development and performance. Empathy activates conscience and moral reasoning, improves happiness, curbs bullying and aggression, enhances kindness and peer inclusiveness, reduces prejudice and racism, promotes heroism and moral courage and boosts relationship satisfaction" (Lahey, 2014).
Read more to find out how to avoid sending the wrong messages; it is clear that telling our kids we want them to be kind, caring people is not enough. Keep leaving your Active Handprints behind by continuing to make the case for programs that engender empathy in your schools and community.
References:
Lahey, J. (2014). Why kids care more about achievement than helping others. The Atlantic. Retrieved from
http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2014/06/most-kids-believe-that-achievement-trumps-empathy/373378/
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