Leading Expert Advice
“Don’t spend more energy trying to get kids to be polite and well behaved than on trying to help them become genuinely compassionate and committed to doing the right thing” (Kohn, p. 191).
“Even before they’re steady on their feet, children are soaking up your values. They’re learning from you how to be a human being. If they see you nonchalantly walk by someone in trouble, they learn that other people’s pain is no business of theirs. But if they see you showing concern, even for strangers, that teaches a powerful moral lesson” (Kohn, p. 193).
Gospel Principle
Luke 10:30-37
30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
Connecting the Dots
The commandment the Lord gives in these scriptures is to “go, and do thou likewise” – in other words, to show empathy and love. The Samaritan in the story helped a man he didn’t even know, and that his people were actually enemies with. How amazing would it be if our children grew up to be like this man?
In order for this to happen, we must set the example. Like Kohn explained, our children will do what we do. Kohn gives an example of a situation in which we could model empathy: “A supermarket cashier says something rude, and the parent on the receiving end of his short temper comments to the child who has witnessed this: “Huh. He didn’t seem to be in a very good mood today, did he? What do you think might have happened to that man that made him so grouchy? Do you think someone might have hurt his feelings?”’ (Kohn, p. 203). By talking these situations through with our children, we are teaching them to be selfless – to look at things from another’s perspective and move outside their own feelings; to care about others.
“Don’t spend more energy trying to get kids to be polite and well behaved than on trying to help them become genuinely compassionate and committed to doing the right thing” (Kohn, p. 191).
“Even before they’re steady on their feet, children are soaking up your values. They’re learning from you how to be a human being. If they see you nonchalantly walk by someone in trouble, they learn that other people’s pain is no business of theirs. But if they see you showing concern, even for strangers, that teaches a powerful moral lesson” (Kohn, p. 193).
Gospel Principle
Luke 10:30-37
30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
Connecting the Dots
The commandment the Lord gives in these scriptures is to “go, and do thou likewise” – in other words, to show empathy and love. The Samaritan in the story helped a man he didn’t even know, and that his people were actually enemies with. How amazing would it be if our children grew up to be like this man?
In order for this to happen, we must set the example. Like Kohn explained, our children will do what we do. Kohn gives an example of a situation in which we could model empathy: “A supermarket cashier says something rude, and the parent on the receiving end of his short temper comments to the child who has witnessed this: “Huh. He didn’t seem to be in a very good mood today, did he? What do you think might have happened to that man that made him so grouchy? Do you think someone might have hurt his feelings?”’ (Kohn, p. 203). By talking these situations through with our children, we are teaching them to be selfless – to look at things from another’s perspective and move outside their own feelings; to care about others.