10th June 2021 - Empathy Day is back and bigger than ever!
Empathy Lab, the team behind Empathy Day, are encouraging everyone to "walk in someone else's shoes" with a plethora of fantastic online events designed to get the nation talking, learn more about empathy and how to put it into practice. Scientific research shows that it's through reading stories that we build real-life empathy. Empathy is needed now more than ever and everyone is invited to get involved with celebrations in three key ways:
READ and share books that help you understand others' perspectives
CONNECT through Empathy Walks that inspire new reflections about the stories in your community
ACT by making Empathy Resolutions and put feelings of empathy into concrete action
Authors and illustrators are an important part of Empathy Day because they create the stories that help build our empathy. Don't miss the Puffin authors joining the spectacular Empathy Day LIVE! online line-up:
11.50am - Empathy Listening Lunch with Jacqueline Wilson sharing top listening tips
2.45pm - Empathy Resolutions with Rashmi Sirdeshpande and Nathan Bryon making every day an Empathy Day
To support schools, there's a specially created toolkit for which you can register your interest by sending an email with the subject line 'Toolkit' to [email protected]. There's also the #ReadforEmpathy collections featuring 50 books, with each book chosen to do a specific job in building empathy. You'll find brilliant Puffin titles like Clean Up! by Nathan Bryon illustrated by Dapo Adela, Run Rebel Run by Manjeet Mann and How to Save the World by Rashmi Sirdeshpande illustrated by Annabel Tempest. Rashmi has also written an Empathy Short especially for Empathy Day 2021, The Best Birthday Ever, which is now available to download here.
Use our supporting resource packs to help you explore empathy in the classroom with activities focused on helping children develop their understanding of empathy and the difference it can make to their lives.
Whatever you're doing to celebrate Empathy Day this year we'd love to hear about it. Please contact [email protected] with 'Inspiring Ideas' in the subject line.