Teaching Kids Empathy and Love, Not Hate

I want my kids to grow up to be exemplary human beings.  People who think of others, not just themselves.  People who take a stand for what it right, and make an effort to make society a better place.  Instilling empathy in them is a great foundation, a human emotion that will drive beneficial actions throughout their lives.

So how do we as parents teach something like empathy?  As is true of so many areas of parenting, it’s an ongoing process.

As in, if I remind my kindergarten son to put his dirty socks in the clothes hamper, day….after day…. after day… someday it will finally click.  (At least that’s my dream.)

I look for teaching opportunities and resources that will model good characteristics, and inspire them.  With a young boy age 6, and a tween girl age 11, it’s not always the same thing that will strike a chord.  Last weekend we all watched the new American Girl movie “Melody 1963: Love Has to Win” on Amazon, and it fit the bill nicely.

The messaging behind this movie is fantastic.  During a time filled with racial prejudices, school aged Melody faces a number of challenges.  Through it all, even blatant hatred and injustice, Melody’s mother continues to preach the same message to her daughter:  Love is the most important thing.  Love is the always best course of action.  Love is what will overcome any adversity.

Love has to win. 

Melody 1963: Love Has to Win ~ What To Ask Your Kids?

This great film is from American Girl, giving us some historical context and story line background for their doll Melody. My daughter loves this product line and overall concept (she reads the books), and I appreciate that the stories are often historically educational, wholesome, and include life lessons.

After watching Melody 1963: Love Has to Win together, talking to your kids about the important messages it relays can help make an even deeper impression on them.  It can help teach them empathy, as they consider the unfair treatment Melody received.  And maybe even inspire them to take a stand when they see discrimination or bullying, once they understand and appreciate Melody’s mother’s mantra “Love Has to Win”.

Here are some thought provoking questions you could pose to your kids after watching the movie:

1. Why was it so hard for Melody to be the only black girl in her school?
2. What would you have done, if you were Melody’s classmate and saw her playing and eating alone every day at school?
3. Her grandpa was very angry over how unfairly black people were treated. But her mom didn’t want Melody to be angry, or to feel hate.  What did her mom want her to always do?
4. At first the teacher didn’t seem too nice, but what did she end up doing to support Melody in the end?
5. Do you think just one person’s actions can make a difference (like the teacher… or the little girl who befriended Melody and invited her over to play)?

Melody 1963: Love Has to Win ~ Movie Trailer

Watch the trailer here:

The movie is available on Amazon, or can be viewed free with an Amazon Prime subscription (my latest favorite thing EVER, since canceling cable).  Check it out with your kids today.

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This post was sponsored by Red Tricycle.  All opinions are my own.