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Compassion for Others
Ages 6 to 7Social / Compassion
Understanding what someone else is carrying.
Let’s Experience It
At recess, Mila saw his friend Dolma sitting alone. Her eyes were looking down. Her mouth was not smiling. Mila walked over to her. “Are you okay?” he asked. “I’m sad,” Dolma said. “I miss my grandma.” Mila sat down next to her. “I’m sorry you’re sad,” he said. He shared his crackers with her. Dolma smiled a little. “Thanks, Mila.”
What’s Happening?
Mila looked at Dolma’s face. He could tell she was sad. Faces show us how people feel. A smile means happy. A frown means sad. Wide eyes mean surprised or scared. Tight lips might mean angry. When we look at faces, we learn how others feel. Mila saw that Dolma’s eyes looked down and she was not smiling. These were clues that something was wrong.
People feel happy and sad for many reasons. Dolma was sad because she missed her grandma. Kids feel happy when they play with friends. They feel sad when someone is mean. They feel happy when they do well on a test. They feel sad when they lose something. Understanding why someone feels a certain way helps us care about them. We can ask them what happened.
When someone is sad, we can comfort them. Mila sat next to Dolma. He listened to her. He said kind words. He shared his crackers. These are all ways to help someone feel better. We can also give hugs if they want one. We can draw them a picture. We can invite them to play. Sharing shows we care. When we give, we help others feel less alone.
Why It Matters
Everyone feels sad sometimes. When you help a sad friend, they feel better. They know someone cares about them. This is very important. No one should feel alone when they are sad.
When you understand how others feel, you are a good friend. You notice when something is wrong. You know how to help. This makes your friendships stronger. It makes your classroom kinder. Everyone feels safe when people care about each other.
Try It Yourself
Be a feelings detective this week! Watch faces at school and at home. See if you can tell how people feel. Look at their eyes, mouth, and eyebrows. When you see someone who looks sad, ask “Are you okay?” Listen to what they say. If they want help, think of ways to comfort them. You could sit with them. You could share something. You could say something kind. Draw a picture of yourself helping a friend. Write one kind thing you could say to someone who is sad.
Remember
Look at faces to see how people feel.
When someone is sad, you can help!
Sit with them.
Listen to them.
Share with them.
Say kind words.
Being a caring friend makes everyone feel better!
Check yourself
14 questions on this topic. Nothing is saved and nothing is
sent anywhere.
Your friend is crying because they dropped their snack. What can you do?
When someone is sad, we can show kindness by helping them feel better. Sharing and giving hugs shows you care! This is called compassion - caring about how others feel and wanting to help them.
You see a new student sitting alone at lunch. What should you do?
Inviting someone new to join you shows compassion and helps them feel welcome. Being new can feel lonely and scary. When you include someone, you help them feel they belong. This is called kindness - doing things that help others feel good!
Your friend's face looks sad and they're not smiling. How might they feel?
We can understand how others feel by looking at their faces and bodies. A sad face usually means someone is feeling upset. This is the start of empathy - understanding how other people feel. When we notice someone is sad, we can try to help!
During Losar (Tibetan New Year), families visit each other and share food. Why is this nice?
During Losar, Tibetan families celebrate by visiting and sharing. This shows compassion - caring about others' happiness. When we spend time with people and share good things, we show we care. Festivals remind us to celebrate our connections with others!
Your friend fell down and hurt their knee. They're crying. What can you say?
When someone is hurt, kind words and asking if they need help shows compassion. Saying 'I'm here' helps them know they're not alone. This is being a good friend - caring when someone is hurting and offering to help.
Your friend's face has tears and they're looking down. How do they probably feel?
Tears and looking down usually mean someone is sad or upset. When we notice how others look, we can understand their feelings. This is the start of compassion - caring about how others feel and wanting to help!
A classmate can't find their backpack and looks worried. What can you do?
Offering to help when someone is worried shows compassion! You see they're struggling and you want to help. Two people looking is better than one. Small acts of kindness like this make people feel cared for!
In Tibet, children often help elderly people carry things. Why is this kind?
In Tibet and everywhere, helping elderly people shows respect and compassion! As people get older, some things become harder. When children help, they show they care and notice when others need support. This is kindness in action!
Your classmate is struggling to zip their jacket. What shows compassion?
Asking 'Do you want help?' is compassionate because it shows you care AND respects their choice. Sometimes people want to try themselves! Compassion means caring about others while also letting them decide what they need.
A kid trips and falls in the hallway. Other kids are laughing. What should you do?
When someone falls and others laugh, they feel embarrassed and hurt. Going to help shows compassion - you care about their feelings more than fitting in with the crowd. Being kind when others aren't takes courage!
Your friend didn't get picked for a team and looks sad. What can you say?
When a friend is disappointed, showing you understand their feelings helps them feel less alone. Saying 'that must feel bad' shows empathy - you get how they feel. Offering to play together shows compassion in action!
You notice a classmate always sits alone at lunch. What's a kind thing to do?
Inviting someone to join you or sitting with them shows compassion! They might be shy or new. When you include someone, you help them feel they belong. Everyone wants to have friends and feel welcomed.
Your friend's pet fish died and they're very sad. What helps?
When someone loses a pet, they feel real sadness. Saying you're sorry and that it's okay to be sad shows compassion. You're not trying to fix it - you're just letting them know you care and their feelings matter.
What does it mean to 'put yourself in someone else's shoes'?
Putting yourself in someone's shoes means imagining how they feel. If your friend lost their toy, how would YOU feel if you lost your toy? This helps us understand others and feel compassion. It's a way of caring!
Compassion for Others at other ages
The same topic, written for older and younger children. Worth a look when
you are judging how far to take it.