Help a Friend Feel Better

1. 1

   When another child falls, use the moment for a small practice in caring.

2. 2

   Help your child notice: “Look—what happened?” Then ask, “How do you think they feel?”

3. 3

   Wonder together about what might help: “What could we do to comfort them?”

4. 4

   If the moment is appropriate, go over together. Your child might ask, “Are you okay?” offer a tissue, or help pick something up.

5. 5

   If your child does not act, notice what someone else does: “That older child helped them stand. We could help someone that way too.”

6. 6

   Explain that if the child seems badly hurt or keeps crying, finding a teacher or another adult is an important way to help.

What to notice

• Shows concern when an unfamiliar child is hurt, such as asking what happened Emotional Functioning
• With your prompting, names several ways someone could comfort another person Communicating and Speaking

Tips

• Ask an open question such as, “How do you think they feel?” Then wait instead of supplying the answer.
• When your child offers comfort, acknowledge the specific action: “You brought them a tissue. That was thoughtful.”
• Understanding that someone needs help may come before taking action. Noticing and talking about the situation are meaningful steps too.

Developmental benefits

• Social/Emotional: Noticing another child’s expression and choosing a caring response gives your child real-world practice recognizing feelings and showing concern.
• Language: Thinking of several ways to help and explaining a choice gives your child practice expressing ideas with more specific language.