Webinar | Strategies that Build Connection and Empathy with Children Using The Power of Perspective-Taking

Facilitator

Jacky Howell
Jacky Howell, MA has been working in the field of early childhood education for over 40 years. She has worked as a teacher, multi-site child care administrator, professional development organization leader, and trainer. She is now a subject matter expert who shares her expertise and experiences with early childhood teachers and administrators in long term ongoing professional development engagements.. One of the country’s most enduring and prolific keynote speakers and conference presenters, Jacky is a modern-day version of Bev Bos, one of her exceptional mentors who influence her work, As an author, Jacky produced a column in NAEYC’s Teaching Young Children. and is the lead author of a NAEYC book, Rituals and Traditions: Fostering a Sense of Community in Preschool.

In the early childhood programs and communities, often we focus on the skills of kindness and empathy as a way for children to connect with others in a caring, positive way. Yet a skill often overlooked is perspective-taking. “Perspective taking skills” refer to the ability to understand and consider a situation from another person’s point of view, encompassing their thoughts, feelings, and experiences and putting aside our own. It goes beyond empathy, as it not only understanding someone’s emotions, yet also understanding their reasoning and viewpoint. This session will focus on how we can support children’s growth in these skills, sharing specific examples that can be shared in early childhood programs and with families.

This session will be provided by Jacky Howell, MA who is the co-author of the newly published book, Reflection, Perspective-Taking and Social Justice: Stories of Empathy and Kindness in the Early Childhood Classroom.”

Objectives
• Participants will gain information about perspective-taking and how it relates to empathy and kindness.
• Participants will experience a wide variety of ideas, strategies, and examples that can be used in their programs as well as share with families.