The empathy advantage : coaching children to be kind, respectful, and successful / Lynne Azarchi ; with Larry Hanover.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

"This easy-to-use guide will help the busiest parents and educators teach children, tweens, and teens the ability to "walk in someone else's shoes" - skills that lasts a lifetime and helps kids become caring adults with the people skills needed for relationships and career success"-- Provided by publisher.

We live in a time when empathy is not only lacking but on the decline. Kids are bullied because of the color of their skin, religion, culture, a disability and more. Bullying and cyberbullying are increasing, especially for black and brown kids, LGBT youth, and Jewish and Muslim youth. Fueled by decreases in respect, kindness, and compassion, the house is on fire! Empathy may be not be a cure-all, but just a little effort can transform a child into a more sensitive, caring human being. The good news is that empathy - the ability to "walk in someone else's shoes" - can be taught. This book is all about teaching adults to teach empathy to kids. The payoff will last a lifetime. In this helpful guide, parents, caregivers and teachers are coached to help their children and students to develop social-emotional skills that will equip them to better navigate the world with self-compassion and empathetic concern. The Empathy Advantage is for the busiest parents and educators. It provides tips, strategies, online resources, and activities that are fun and engaging and take just 10 to 20 minutes. It emphasizes the importance of starting early, being good role models, spending quality face-to-face time together, and more. It will help readers understand the dynamics of bullying and teach children to stand up not only for themselves but others. And it explores other topics including managing media in the home, the value of pets in inculcating empathy, active listening, and self-compassion - i.e. being as forgiving and kind to yourself as you would to a friend.

Why YOU should care about empathy -- Empathy CAN be taught -- The science and biology of empathy -- Empathy 101: defining how empathy fits in with other emotional skills -- Empathy, media, and social media -- Parent tips: strengthening moral compasses -- Teaching empathy: infant to three years -- Teaching empathy: three to six years -- Teaching empathy: elementary years -- Teaching empathy: middle school years -- Teaching empathy: high school years -- Empathy: critical for bullying prevention -- What parents want -- Self-compassion and self-empathy -- Active listening -- Empathy and gender -- Empathy's cousins: social-emotional skills -- Teaching empathy through documentary films, storytelling, and photos -- Pets and empathy -- Heroes and more heroes -- Empathy and paying it forward.