teaching our children about and with compassion
In the summer of 2013 Foothills Congregational Church had a 10 week course on compassion for our children.
The curriculum for this program can be found on this website.
Feel free to look through and use any of this curriculum that you find useful.
Most of it is not original, but linked to the original sources where we found the resources on-line. Anything that is original is posted for your free use. Links to external media have expired over time so you will need to find new resources.
The lessons themselves were written for broadly graded classrooms and are adaptable for a one-room Sunday School. We assumed 45 minutes of teaching time.
The background information for each week can be adapted to a program for adults or older youth. It contains some world class thinkers in the topic of compassion and some average folk.
Use the verticle menu on the left to find the week and topic you want to explore.
Each week will have
-an outline, which includes the opening and closing rituals that will be consistent throughout
the 10 weeks.
-an introduction of the topic of the week for your own enrichment on the page
titled "Background Information."
-a variety of activities for children on the topic of the week that you can choose from for your
class.
Please explore the resources below to give you an introduction to the topic of compassion.
This curriculum was curated by our Associate Minister, Rev. Michelle Webber.
If you have questions, you can contact her at [email protected], or by clicking the envelope button on the upper right hand of this screen.
Please enjoy this study of compassion.
The curriculum for this program can be found on this website.
Feel free to look through and use any of this curriculum that you find useful.
Most of it is not original, but linked to the original sources where we found the resources on-line. Anything that is original is posted for your free use. Links to external media have expired over time so you will need to find new resources.
The lessons themselves were written for broadly graded classrooms and are adaptable for a one-room Sunday School. We assumed 45 minutes of teaching time.
The background information for each week can be adapted to a program for adults or older youth. It contains some world class thinkers in the topic of compassion and some average folk.
Use the verticle menu on the left to find the week and topic you want to explore.
Each week will have
-an outline, which includes the opening and closing rituals that will be consistent throughout
the 10 weeks.
-an introduction of the topic of the week for your own enrichment on the page
titled "Background Information."
-a variety of activities for children on the topic of the week that you can choose from for your
class.
Please explore the resources below to give you an introduction to the topic of compassion.
This curriculum was curated by our Associate Minister, Rev. Michelle Webber.
If you have questions, you can contact her at [email protected], or by clicking the envelope button on the upper right hand of this screen.
Please enjoy this study of compassion.
karen armstrong on compassion as a religious topic
A brief Introduction to the contemporary study of compassion
25 ways to teach children about compassion
1 Show Compassion towards Your Child
From birth, a child must feel loved and secure. Their needs must be respected. Security comes from knowing they will be listened to and taken seriously. They must know that they can count on you to protect them. They need to be recognized for the unique beings they are.
Of course, most parents love and respect their children and would do anything for them. Yet, even the most loving parents will act according to their own unmet needs and desires at times.
We must love our children unconditionally.
2 Show Compassion towards Others
Children do need to be responsible for their own actions, however, parents and caregivers are very influential in determining how a child acts.
We've all heard the expression, "Do as I say, not as I do." Children watch carefully how their parents and other adults treat others. By modeling compassion towards others, you are teaching them what you value.
3 Talk about Compassion
Have conversations with your child to help them understand what other people might be experiencing and feeling. Have them imagine what it would be like to be in that person's shoes. These could be people at school that are overweight or physically or mentally disabled. The conversation could extend to people in other parts of the world, like children experiencing war or natural disasters.
I have a friend who, when her children did something to hurt her or someone else, would have them write an essay about why it was wrong. She was teaching them to recognize what others might be feeling and be able to articulate those feelings.
Read more...
From birth, a child must feel loved and secure. Their needs must be respected. Security comes from knowing they will be listened to and taken seriously. They must know that they can count on you to protect them. They need to be recognized for the unique beings they are.
Of course, most parents love and respect their children and would do anything for them. Yet, even the most loving parents will act according to their own unmet needs and desires at times.
We must love our children unconditionally.
2 Show Compassion towards Others
Children do need to be responsible for their own actions, however, parents and caregivers are very influential in determining how a child acts.
We've all heard the expression, "Do as I say, not as I do." Children watch carefully how their parents and other adults treat others. By modeling compassion towards others, you are teaching them what you value.
3 Talk about Compassion
Have conversations with your child to help them understand what other people might be experiencing and feeling. Have them imagine what it would be like to be in that person's shoes. These could be people at school that are overweight or physically or mentally disabled. The conversation could extend to people in other parts of the world, like children experiencing war or natural disasters.
I have a friend who, when her children did something to hurt her or someone else, would have them write an essay about why it was wrong. She was teaching them to recognize what others might be feeling and be able to articulate those feelings.
Read more...
Experiencing compassion changes our behavior towards others
Gray Matter Compassion Made Easy
By DAVID DeSTENO
Published: July 14, 2012
ALL the major religions place great importance on compassion. Whether it’s the parable of the good Samaritan in Christianity, Judaism’s “13 attributes of compassion” or the Buddha’s statement that “loving kindness and compassion is all of our practice,” empathy with the suffering of others is seen as a special virtue that has the power to change the world. This
idea is often articulated by the Dalai Lama, who argues that individual experiences of compassion radiate outward and increase harmony for all.
Read More...
By DAVID DeSTENO
Published: July 14, 2012
ALL the major religions place great importance on compassion. Whether it’s the parable of the good Samaritan in Christianity, Judaism’s “13 attributes of compassion” or the Buddha’s statement that “loving kindness and compassion is all of our practice,” empathy with the suffering of others is seen as a special virtue that has the power to change the world. This
idea is often articulated by the Dalai Lama, who argues that individual experiences of compassion radiate outward and increase harmony for all.
Read More...
meditation boosts compassion
Meditation Could Boost Compassion, Study Suggests
Posted: 04/02/2013 11:32 pm EDT
Meditation doesn't just make you a better person mentally and physically, but
it could also make you a better person when it comes to compassion.
A new study from Northeastern University and Harvard University researchers
shows that meditation can improve compassion and do-gooder behavior. The
new findings are published in the journal Psychological Science.
Read More...
Posted: 04/02/2013 11:32 pm EDT
Meditation doesn't just make you a better person mentally and physically, but
it could also make you a better person when it comes to compassion.
A new study from Northeastern University and Harvard University researchers
shows that meditation can improve compassion and do-gooder behavior. The
new findings are published in the journal Psychological Science.
Read More...