As summer fades and kids jump back
into learning mode, why not use the
headlines to teach students about life
outside the classroom? Children have
a pure sense of injustice—they’re often
shocked and can be affected by stories
adults treat as white noise. If we teach
them to ignore that impulse, they’re
less likely to care. Instead, the Ameri-
can Academy of Pediatrics suggests
that parents and caregivers offer kids
age-appropriate translations of the
news. That way, you safeguard little
ones’ emotional well-being while
encouraging their sense of compassion.
When we were kids, our parents
pored over newspapers with us. It
helped us develop empathy and
sparked our passion to take action
on important issues. Now both dads
ourselves, we’re compiling best
practices. Here are some helpful
strategies to interpret the sometimes
scary world news about, say, climate
change or the migrant crisis to create
teaching moments for kids.
LET THEM LEAD To kick off conversa-
tions about issues in the news, ask
kids what they already know and what
4 WAYS TO
TEACH
KIDS
EMPATHY
With the right approach, parents
can use the news to get students
thinking about the world
As the founders of GH Humanitarian
Seal star WE Charity (we.org),
a social movement that brings
schools, communities and
individuals together to do good,
these brothers have introduced
young people around the world
to the rewards of service and
leadership. And since they’re both
dads, they’ve got great firsthand
ideas for raising the compassion
IQ in families.CRAIG
KIELBURGERMARC
KIELBURGERMEET OUR
EXPERTS
questions they have. Let their knowledge
and concerns guide your explanation.HELP THEM “GET” THE MEDIA
Stanford researchers have found
that kids have trouble judging the
credibility of information online.
Teach older children what sources
to trust and how to identify opinion
pieces versus news stories.ANSWER THEIR QUESTIONS Even
if your children’s understanding of
an issue is vague, their anxiety is real.
Don’t dismiss worries as childish;
listen and take them seriously.TAKE ACTION TOGETHER Pick an
issue to tackle as a family. Start with
small steps and show your kids they
can make a difference. This instills
hope rather than fear. Climate change?
Reduce your energy consumption
at home. A local homeless shelter
is closing? Raise awareness among
family and friends or write to
municipal authorities.In 2017, after a rigorous vetting process led by
senior-level members of the Good Housekeeping
Institute and independent experts, WE Charity
(we.org) earned the first-ever GH Humanitarian
Seal. When you see this emblem, you can be
sure the organization you’re donating money tohas met the Good Housekeeping Institute’s strict
eligibility requirements for financial health and
transparency and anti-discrimination as well as
GH’s standards for humanitarian values. To read
more about the GH Humanitarian Seal, go to
goodhousekeeping.com/institute.GH SEAL STAR2019
This month GH hosts our first-ever Parenting
Summit, We the Family, at the Hearst Tower
in New York City during Baby Safety Month.2019
GH Textiles Lab experts evaluate
pajamas that make cooling claims, using
a special machine that mimics sweat.GettyImages;^ DouglasMacRae^(CraigandMarc^Kielburger);^DanielleDaly^(^2019 ).^