- Write in your dialogue journal.
- Make a talking stick together as a family.
- Mirror, Mirror: Today use this statement to answer back to family members: “So, what you are saying is...”
- People who choose to Seek First to Understand have EMPATHY. If you showed empathy today put an X on this box.
- Are you aware that people in your family have feelings, too? List your family members. Each day write one feeling they showed.
- Play Emotion Charades: Practice “listening with your eyes”. Choose an emotion to try to express just with your face and body. You cannot use words.
- Words like “always” and “never” are clues to muddying the waters of communication. Tally each time you use them this month.
- Empathic listening is not about agreeing with the other (showing sympathy); it is about understanding what message the other is trying to convey. It is the only form of true listening.
- Memorize the definition of EMPATHY.
- Funny Dinner Night: Purposefully leave out random items for dinner. The goal is to notice the needs of those at the table and to fetch those items from the kitchen to meet the needs of the rest of the family.
- Practice using your Family Talking Stick during discussions. The person with the stick can talk, the others listen.
- "Most people do not listen to understand; they listen to reply"
- FREE!
- Watch The Berenstain Bears: New Neighbors on YouTube.
- Talk about a time you did not understand someone else just because they were different than you.
- Listen With Your Eyes: Sometimes you have to listen with your eyes as much as you listen with your ears. People say a lot with their body language and facial expressions.
- Listen to the book Stand In My Shoes by Bob Sornson on YouTube.
- Have you ever had a time with your family or friends when you needed to “zip it” and just listen? Talk about that time at dinner tonight.
- List ways you will Seek First to Understand others that are different from you.
- Today, look your family members in the eye as they talk to you. Ask them to expand on what they are talking about.
- Pretend Listening: Have your child tell you something. Pretend listen to them. Talk about how this is hurtful.
- Mirror, Mirror: Today use this statement to answer back to family members: “You seem to be feeling...”
- Paying Attention: Fill a tray with 10-15 items that children would find familiar with. Leave it out all day without bringing attention to it. At dinner ask them to name the items on the tray without looking.
- What you say matters (what you do matters even more) – be mindful! Listen with your heart today.
- Watch Sesame Street: Mark and Murray on YOUTUBE as they teach you a lesson about having EMPATHY.
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of seek first to understand worksheet.
