Kind Kids: Understanding vs. FeelingScience reveals the most effective form of parental empathy.

From the show

Parenting Choices Decoded

To raise a prosocial child, it's more important to understand their perspective than to feel their emotions. New research shows that cognitive empathy—accurately grasping why your child feels a certain way—is a better predictor of kindness than simply sharing their feelings. This means you don't have to absorb your child's distress to guide them effectively. The key is to see the world from their point of view, making empathy a more manageable and teachable skill for parents.