The Power of Reading

“Books are a uniquely portable magic.”
- Stephen King

Empathy, the ability to understand and share the feelings of others, is a crucial skill for navigating the complexities of human relationships. It allows us to connect with others on a deeper level, fostering compassion and kindness. But how do we nurture empathy in children, who are just beginning to explore the world around them?

One powerful method is through reading.

What is Empathy?

Empathy is often described as the ability to put oneself in another’s shoes, to see the world through their eyes and feel what they feel. It is more than just recognising someone else’s emotions; it involves an emotional response to those feelings, such as compassion or concern.

Empathy is foundational to healthy social interactions and relationships, enabling individuals to respond to others’ needs with understanding.

Why is Empathy Important?

Empathy is vital in both personal and social contexts. It helps children build strong, supportive relationships with peers, understand different perspectives, and respond to conflicts with compassion. In a broader societal context, empathy fosters inclusivity and reduces prejudice, as it encourages understanding and acceptance of diverse viewpoints and experiences.

Reading shows us a world that is different to our own.

How Can Book Reading Support Empathy?

Books are a unique tool for building empathy in children. When children read, they are invited into the minds of characters who may have different experiences, emotions, and perspectives from their own. This process, known as emotional transportation, allows readers to live vicariously through the characters, understanding their struggles, joys, and dilemmas on a deeply personal level.

A study exploring the impact of reading on empathy amongst college age students suggested that reading fiction can significantly enhance empathic skills by immersing readers in the emotional worlds of characters (Bal, Veltkamp, 2013). This immersive experience may help children practice empathy by imagining themselves in similar situations and considering how they would feel and react.

In conclusion, fostering empathy in children is important for social and emotional development, and book reading is a powerful way to support this process. By immersing children in the lives and emotions of characters, books provide a safe space for them to explore different perspectives and develop the understanding and compassion that are at the heart of empathy.

Strategies to increase your child’s engagement with reading:

- Create an enjoyable reading routine

- Offer a variety of books

- Create a comfortable reading space

- Connect books to their interests

- Visit the library

- Join or start a book club

- Encourage your child to draw, or act out their favourite scenes in the book.

Citation

How Does Fiction Reading Influence Empathy? An Experimental Investigation on the Role of Emotional Transportation. Bal PM, Veltkamp M (2013) How Does Fiction Reading Influence Empathy? An Experimental Investigation on the Role of Emotional Transportation.
PLOS ONE 8(1): e55341. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0055341