EP 44 | The Social Side of Feelings: Why Empathy Isn’t Just ‘Being Nice’

Empathy isn’t a “sorry” on cue.

In the final part of the Big Feelings 101 series, we bring it all home with the skills that transform awareness into action. This episode unpacks how children build emotional resilience, connect through empathy, and develop that inner knowing: “I can handle this.”

You’ll hear:

🌱 The difference between affective and cognitive empathy (and why both matter)

🌱 Why “how would you like it if…” often misses the mark in early childhood

🌱 Practical ways to build empathy and perspective-taking through stories, play, and everyday repair

🌱 How emotional communication creates connection - not just expression

🌱 What emotional self-efficacy really looks like in practice (hint: it’s not calm; it’s trust)

If you're ready to go beyond naming feelings and start building emotional wisdom in your practice, this episode will guide the way.

Helpful links

Take a peek at my Behaviour Bites guide, Beyond "Say Sorry"

Articles

Implications of Carolyn Saarni’s work for preschoolers’ emotional competence

Early childhood teachers as socializers of young children’s emotional competence

Early childhood teachers’ socialization of children’s emotional competence

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