Shame, Guilt, and Empathy

In this episode we continue to our conversation about discipline by exploring how shame, guilt, and empathy impact how we parent and teach. Be sure to listen to the end of the episode to learn tips you can implement today. Also, follow PAWsitive Choices on Instagram and Facebook so you can take our poll to help make our next episode more applicable to you!

Below are links to the resources mentioned in this episode.

Brain Break Video: https://youtu.be/odZe5jI7whU
Link to purchase Problem-Solving Tool Kit: https://www.pawsitivechoices.com/store/problem-solving-tool-kit    

Tips for reflecting on shame, guilt, and empathy:

#1: Pause and ask yourself these questions:

• Is what I'm doing or saying to children causing shame (the feeling that they are bad) or guilt (the feeling that what they did was bad)?
• If shame is present in my interactions, how can I shift the focus to changing the behavior and building empathy? 

#2: If you're not sure if what you're doing or saying is causing shame, ask yourself this:

• How would I feel if my spouse/partner/parent said that to me in front of my peers or family or treated me in that way?  
• Would I feel unworthy of connection or bad about myself if I experienced a similar situation? 

#3.  Talk with children about why certain behaviors are a problem, help them think about how their actions impact others (to develop empathy), and brainstorm ways for children to repair with others when problems arise.  

The resources and activities described in the video are part of the PAWsitive Choices curriculum. You can learn more about this curriculum on our online store.
Store: https://www.pawsitivechoices.com/store
Check out our other free resources: https://www.pawsitivechoices.com/freebies
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