Today’s Practice:

Young people do not always know how to communicate what they think, what they feel, and what they need. Instead they communicate through their behaviors.

As adults in their lives, our challenge is to learn how to decode their behaviors rather than labeling, judging, or punishing them. Children need us to listen to them as we seek to identify the causes of their behaviors, and then to respond empathically to what we discover. By listening, not only are we making a stronger connection to our children, but we are looking for clues in the stories they tell for how we can best meet their needs.

David Levine

David Levine, founder of Teaching Empathy Institute, is an educator, writer, musician, and a nonprofit leader with more than 30 years of experience working in a multitude of educational settings. He has authored several books, including A Year of Belonging.