This summer I spent a lot of time doing empathy workshops with teens and adults. Every group I work with lists empathy workshops as their number one need in training volunteers. I thought it had to do with empathy issues, but it turns out one of the main problems people who serve others have is the words that volunteers say to the people they are supposed to be serving.
When adults discuss how children and teens speak to each other, the topic of bullying often arises. For children being raised in a Christian home, how they use their words goes way beyond bullying in the positive and negative effects they can have on people. We often forget Jesus tied serving others and sharing his faith together. Serving was a way to point people to God. Serving their felt needs meant they would be able to hear what Jesus had to say, because their pain, hunger or fears had subsided.
You’ve hopefully taught your kids not to overtly bully others or threaten them. I would imagine most of the time they are kind when speaking to their friends. In fact, once they reach the teen years they may have long wonderful conversations with close friends. Have you taught them though to always be kind, loving and supportive with their words with other people? Have you taught them how to use their words to point others to God? Have you taught them that a seemingly innocent (for a kid) comment like “You don’t smell good” can have life long consequences for the person to whom it is said?
Continue reading Teaching Kids Words Matter