March 15, 2025

Quote of the Week

"Our task must be to free ourselves... by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty." - Albert Einstein

Can We Raise Kids To Feel Empathy For Nature?

"With the threat of global warming and the debates about its existence growing stronger, many of us lean on the hope that future generations will have the knowledge and kindness needed to preserve our environment. But how can we help young people grow up to be guardians of the planet? A recent study found that children who are more empathic toward nature have more positive attitudes about behaviors that protect the environment.

When we think of empathy, we tend to envision the ability to identify specific feelings in someone, often distressing ones, and respond accordingly with caring behavior. The idea of empathy toward humans can also apply to empathy toward nature, which is what researchers looked at in this study. People who feel empathy for nature adopt the perspective of animals in pain, for example, and are more inclined to help them."

This week's article from Greater Good uncovers interesting insights into the relationship between empathy and looking after our planet. [Read Article]

Reading Corner

Title: The Lorax
By: Dr Seuss
Ages: 3-7

“Mister! He said
with a sawdusty sneeze,
I am the Lorax.
I speak for the trees.”

"Celebrate the original eco warrior! The Lorax is a timeless classic that has been using humour and rhyme to raise awareness of the destruction of the environment for more than fifty years. Join the long-suffering crusader and help save the planet with Dr. Seuss’s beloved, and still achingly relevant, ode to conservation." -- Publisher

 Enjoy this read-aloud video of The Lorax!

Be the Change

Watch part of the BBC Planet Earth series with your children to help them connect with nature through a different lens.  Share reflections afterwards about how different parts of the documentary made them feel about our planet.