Psychologist’s Perspective: May 2025

May 26, 2025 6 min read

These months seem to be going by more and more quickly! It is hard to believe we are almost at the end of the school year.

This month, our theme has been Empathy. When I watch the news, look at social media, or even go to the grocery store, I am reminded repeatedly how much we need to practice and model empathy. We never truly know another person’s story; everyone has a story. In a society that seems quick to judge, comment, and gossip (often from behind a screen), it is essential we pause long enough to consider the other person, their feelings, and their story.

How can we, as parents, help our children understand and practice empathy? Here are a few thoughts.

  • Define empathy. I like this definition from www.verywellmind.com, which states that “empathy is the ability to emotionally understand what other people feel, see things from their point of view, and imagine yourself in their place. Essentially, it is putting yourself in someone else’s position and feeling what they are feeling.”
    • One caveat—there is a balance needed when we practice empathy. According to Robin Stern and Diana Divecha, “the art of empathy requires paying attention to another’s needs without sacrificing one’s own. It demands the mental dexterity to switch attunement from other to self.”
  • Help your child describe and label their feelings when they are little.
    • For example, “I see that you’re clenching your fists, and your face is red. You seem angry.”
    • When reading picture books or seeing images online or on television, ask what people might be feeling. Discuss why that may be.
    • Normalize feeling all emotions. We are not meant to be happy 100% of the time, and we need to learn to sit in discomfort. It seems that as a society, we spend a lot of time trying to avoid feeling our feelings. We try to push them away in a variety of ways. What a gift it is to be mindful, present, and aware of our thoughts and feelings, both cognitively and physically. This is a gift that needs to be cultivated and practiced.
    • One caveat—some neurodivergent individuals express and experience emotions and empathy differently. We need to be respectful and neuro-affirming in our parenting approach. If you want to learn more, read about the Double Empathy Problem in the literature.
  • Don’t be a “lawnmower parent”—stop clearing your child’s path so that they can live a problem-free life. Step back and let your child face challenges and learn how to solve problems. This not only allows them to identify with the struggles of others but it builds much-needed resilience. It communicates to our children that we know they are capable humans, and they don’t need us to jump in at every turn to “fix things.” Kristina Morgan is a clinical psychologist at Lourdes Hill College. She says it is great for kids to have problems at school age because when they are young those problems tend to be:
    • Low stakes
    • Supported by adults
    • An opportunity for learning.
  • Teach your kids how to listen. Because we all come from different upbringings, we cannot truly understand what someone is going through and how they are feeling. We don’t want to assume that we do. So, we listen, ask questions, and then listen some more.
  • When your children are struggling, and they come to you with hurt feelings because of someone else’s words or actions, listen and validate their feelings without trying to fix anything. Once they are emotionally regulated, explore what the other person may be going through and why they may have behaved the way they did; not to make excuses for them but to promote understanding.
  • Challenge judgmental remarks within your home. Model kindness in your interactions with others and on social media.
  • Break down stereotypes. Call them out when you hear and see them. Have an open discussion about where these stereotypes came from and why they are harmful.
  • As a family, find and discuss a cause that you’re passionate about. Maybe it’s homelessness, addiction, trafficking, domestic violence, poverty, etc. Then learn more about this cause and seek to understand those impacted. Find ways to support whether that’s by raising awareness, volunteering your time, and/or offering financial support. I know that I feel incredibly lucky to live where and how I do, and I look for ways that I can be of service to others.

Here are a few resources I explored for this newsletter:

Wellness Updates

Grades K–9

As the MindUp program wraps up in our Grades 1–9 classrooms, students are reflecting on how they can thoughtfully show up in the world and care for their communities. Recent lessons have focused on mindful consumption—examining the impact of media and overconsumption of goods—and how our choices affect ourselves and the world around us. Through conversations, activities, and self-reflection, students build a deeper awareness of their values, actions, and the importance of compassion, gratitude, and responsible citizenship as they carry these lessons beyond the classroom.

Grades 10–12

This month, students in Grades 10–12 have been discussing empathy. They engaged with a questionnaire that encouraged them to explore how empathetic they think they are. They also discussed scenarios they may encounter at school. Each scenario encouraged students to practice empathy by considering the emotions and perspectives of the individuals involved.

If you have questions about wellness programming in Grades 10–12, please contact me at sbraun@calgaryacademy.com.

Counselling Services and Wraparound Support

We continue to have a counsellor supporting the needs of our learners in K–8. If you want to have your child connect with her, please reach out to Jenny at jduffield@calgaryacademy.com.

I am here to support the needs of our Grades 9–12 students. If you want your child to connect with me, please reach out to sbraun@calgaryacademy.com.

Lastly, if you have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s learning journey, you can also reach out to our Director of Learning, Erin Ellis, at eellis@calgaryacademy.com.

Serena Braun

Registered Psychologist