Summer is an excellent time for children to explore, play, and learn new skills. Amongst the essential skills they can develop are empathy and kindness. If your child is nearing preschool age and looking to enter
VPK in the next school year,
summertime might be the perfect season to start introducing concepts surrounding empathy. By engaging in fun and meaningful activities before your child enters
VPK,
preschool-aged children can build their understanding of others' feelings. Here are three engaging activities that will help foster empathy in your little ones this summer and prepare them for their journey into preschool.
Nature Walks with Mindfulness
Nature walks are not just about exploring the outdoors; they can also be a great way to teach children about empathy for nature and animals in their natural habitat. They encourage children to think about the needs and feelings of other living things, fostering a sense of responsibility and empathy towards the natural world. This activity helps children understand that every creature has unique needs and experiences, laying a foundation for empathy building.
How to Do It:
- Preparation: Choose a safe and scenic park or trail.
- Activity: As you walk, encourage your child to notice the different plants, animals, and insects. Ask them to think about how these living things might feel and what they might need to thrive.
- Discussion: After the walk, sit with your child to talk about what you saw. Try discussing ways to care for nature and respect creatures in their existing habitats.
Group Playdates that Teach Sharing and Cooperation
Organizing group playdates can be a fantastic opportunity for children to practice communication while enabling them to find solutions within their group. These activities help children understand the importance of working together and considering others' feelings through encouraging communication and cooperative play. Playtime presents opportunities to negotiate, share, and resolve conflicts. These essential skills are vital for developing empathy and positive relationships.
How to Do It:
- Preparation: Invite a few friends for a playdate and set up various toys and activities suitable for groups.
- Activity: Include cooperative games and activities requiring teamwork, such as building a block tower together or playing a team game.
- Discussion: After the playdate, talk to your child about how they felt when they shared or helped a friend. Ask them how they think their friends feel, too.
Crafting Empathy-Themed Art
Art projects are a wonderful way for children to express their feelings and learn about empathy. Crafting empathy-themed art allows children to express their feelings creatively. This activity reinforces the importance of kindness and helping others through visual art. By illustrating acts of kindness and discussing them, children can visualize these concepts, which aids them to better understand and internalize these values, making them more likely to act empathetically in real-life situations.
How to Do It:
- Preparation: Gather art supplies such as paper, crayons, markers, and paints.
- Activity: Create art projects that focus on empathy, such as drawing pictures of times they helped someone or creating thank-you cards for friends and family.
- Discussion: Talk about the art they created and why it's important to be kind and helpful to others
Fostering empathy in preschoolers is an essential part of their development, and summer provides an excellent opportunity to engage in activities that teach kindness and understanding of others.
By incorporating these fun and meaningful activities into your summer routine, you can help your child develop the empathy skills they need to build strong, positive relationships as they begin their school journey in
VPK or preschool.
Looking for Fun and Enriching VPK Activities for Your Preschoolers?
As you embark on the VPK (Voluntary Prekindergarten) journey with your preschooler, remember that Kids and Company is here to support you at every step. Our VPK programs are designed to keep children engaged, learning, and thriving, ensuring they are well-prepared for kindergarten. For more information on our VPK offerings and how we can help nurture your child's early education, reach out online or call us at 407-208-1090.