A concerned parent describes their 4-year-old son’s disruptive behavior at preschool, including aggression towards other children and a lack of empathy. Although he is sweet at home and surrounded by supportive family, the parent’s worries grow due to feedback from teachers and other parents. They question whether it’s normal for his age and how to foster empathy. A child psychologist explains that while children naturally care for others, true empathy—combining caring with consideration—develops over time and is not fully present in children under 5. Emotional safety is crucial for empathy to emerge, and teaching or punishing is not effective.
Teachers say my 4-Year-Old Doesn’t Show any Empathy at School
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