The Empathy Advantage: Coaching Children to Be Kind, Respectful, and Successful

Empathy Advantage is a highly needed book, especially in the times we live in. It provides a useful guide based on evidence-based curriculum to foster and cultivate empathy in youth. Lynne Azarchi, Executive Director of Kidsbridge Tolerance Center, introduces to the reader recent research on empathy and social-emotional learning. This book shares activities that help parents, caregivers and educators develop children's ability for human connection while acknowledging the strength in diversity, as well as practicing equity and inclusion.--Yonty Friesem, Ph.D., Founding Director, MA in Civic Media, Columbia College Chicago
Empathy is the most basic and essential life skill. It makes classrooms and families humane places. As Lynne Azarchi shows, empathy can be taught. Most importantly, Lynne can teach it, and that is exactly why this book belongs in every home and classroom- now more than ever.--Maurice J. Elias, Ph.D, director, Rutgers University's Social-Emotional and Character Development Lab; co-author, Emotionally Intelligent Parenting and The Joys and Oys of Parenting
The time has never been more ripe for parents and educators to explicitly teach empathy. The Empathy Advantage is timely and provides evidence-based guidance for parents and educators on myriad ways to promote empathy among children and students. Recent evidence suggests that not only can empathy be taught, but now more than we ever, it is clear that empathy needs to be taught. As Azarchi notes, evidence is mounting about the decline in empathy among children and young adults. Parents and educators should not be complacent about this decline. The data are clear that social-emotional character skills are associated with higher personal and academic achievement, as well as lower levels of bias towards others. Plus, these skills create a pillar upon which bullying prevention skills can be improved. The capacity for empathy builds one's ability to care, give respect, provide support to others, and to be kind. Now we know empathy can be taught and Azarchi provides guidance on just how to do that.--Nadia S. Ansary, PhD, professor, department of psychology, Rider University
Surely, there is no role as influential as that of a parent, nor responsibility as profound as modeling behaviors that build empathy in children. Lynne Azarchi, gently and methodically, empowers parents to teach kindness by creating opportunities that foster empathy. Early conversations about how it feels to walk in the shoes of another underlie a child's successful journey into a compassionate and fulfilling adulthood. Azarchi shines a light upon the importance of a foundation in empathy - not only to help youngsters deal with the social and emotional challenges of growing up, but to enable them to live and thrive in the tolerant society they will create in the future.--Dr. Helen Boehm, author of "Parenting Across the Digital Divide: A National Conversation on the Impact of Technology and Media on Our Families"
An easy-to-follow plan for teaching respect and kindness. Empathy begins at home, says the author, and the earlier, the better. Azarchi offers such practical suggestions as holding family meetings, limiting screen time, and emphasizing face-to-face activities. . . . Backed by science and truly instructive, Azarchi's inspiring book couldn't come at a better time.--Booklist
[The Empathy Advantage] will benefit all children, including those with disabilities and special healthcare needs. . . . The main message of this book is that empathy can be taught. . . . Children will also learn that they are more alike than different from others.--eParent Magazine