Examples of Empathy Statements: A Parent's Guide

TL;DR: Empathy means understanding and sharing others’ feelings from their perspective, unlike sympathy which observes from the outside. For parents, using empathy statements helps children feel understood and strengthens parent-child relationships. There are two main types of empathy statements: acknowledging statements (“I can see that…”) and connecting statements (“I understand…”). Using these statements helps validate children’s feelings, even when circumstances can’t change.

Understanding Empathy

What Is Empathy?

Empathy is being sensitive to others’ thoughts and feelings by putting yourself in their position. It involves both feeling and understanding what another person is experiencing.

Empathy vs. Sympathy

Sympathy: Feeling from the “outside”
- Observing someone’s situation
- Feeling sorry for their struggle
- Maintaining emotional distance
Empathy: Feeling from the “inside”
- Stepping into their experience
- Understanding their perspective
- Connecting with their emotions

How to Use Empathy Statements

Key Principles

Try to understand your child’s perspective
Tune into their emotional experience
Express your understanding without dismissing feelings
Avoid using “but” which can minimize their experience

Types of Empathy Statements

1. Acknowledging Statements

Use phrases like “It sounds like,” “I’m noticing,” or “I can see”

Examples:

“I can see that you’re frustrated because you can’t get across the monkey bars”
“It sounds like you’re angry because your teacher blamed you for something you didn’t do”
“I bet you felt hurt when Sarah didn’t invite you to the party”

2. Connecting Statements

Use phrases like “I understand” or “I’ve felt”

Examples:

“I know how it feels to be scared when you’re alone”
“I would feel angry if someone stole my lunch box, too”
“I understand how disappointing it is that we can’t eat pizza tonight”

Developing Your Empathy Practice

Daily Practice

Set aside a few minutes each day to:

Review interactions with your child
Note successful empathy moments and missed opportunities
Consider your child’s responses and your emotional state
Track patterns in challenging situations

Documentation Options

Choose methods that work for you:

Quick notes after meaningful interactions
Voice memos for reflection
Journal entries about successful approaches
Regular progress tracking

Supporting Your Growth

Learn through books, podcasts, or workshops
Join parent support groups
Practice active listening
Pay attention to non-verbal cues
Share appropriate emotional experiences

Important Reminder

Using empathy statements doesn’t necessarily change the outcome of a situation. Your child might still need to do homework or leave the park. However, acknowledging their feelings helps them feel heard and understood, building a stronger parent-child connection.

The key to success is consistency and practice. Each interaction is an opportunity to strengthen your empathy skills and deepen your connection with your child. Remember that becoming more empathetic is a journey – celebrate your progress and learn from your missteps.

Use Era to Build Your Empathy Practice

Building empathy is a journey, not a destination. Era helps you document, reflect on, and improve your empathetic parenting skills while creating lasting memories of your growing connection with your child.

Start your journey with Era today!

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