Perspective Taking
Here at Wheelock, I spend a lot of time in my small groups, lunch bunches and also at times within the classrooms teaching kids how to take PERSPECTIVE. Or in other words, teaching kids to recognize and think about what other people are thinking and feeling. This is a very important skill and is a great building block to building empathy. Our teachers do a wonderful job weaving perspective taking skills in to many different lessons at school.
In my earlier posts I've talked about Michele Garcia Winner's wonderful book, How to be a Social Detective.
This book really lays the ground work for perspective taking. We teach the kids to use their eyes, ears, brains and hearts to make guesses about what others are feeling and might do next.
In second grade these perspective skills are really starting to emerge and by third grade we usually see more of a jump. For example, a second grader may be able to recognize that someone is angry when they observe a scowl on someone's face or see someone get hit. Usually by third grade they may understand more about what made that individual angry, beyond just what they can observe.
Some kids may develop their perspective taking skills more easily than others but there are ways you can teach it at home:
-Teachable Moments: if your child has or observes strong emotions, later asking (helpful hint: once everyone is calm) why they felt that way, how did it make the other person feel, how would you feel if that was you?
-Help to point out what different feelings look like (frowning mouth, head down, tight mouth and furrowed eyebrows)- Body Language
-While reading a story, it's helpful to ask why a certain character felt a particular way and make the connection between behavior and emotions (motivation)
- If a child is surprised by someone's reaction, help them to understand the other person interpreted the situation and also help to point out background knowledge.
- Here are some helpful books that highlight perspective taking:
3. Kathryn Otoshi has a great series of books:
- Some great websites include: socialthinking.com and also Jill Kuzma's website
