Why empathy matters so much for kids — and how Wellbeing Hacks teaches it (Hack #5)

By Lena Way, author of Wellbeing Hacks

Empathy isn’t just ‘being nice.’ Research shows it’s one of the strongest predictors of friendship quality, resilience, prosocial behaviour, and even protection against bullying. Kids who develop empathy in primary school are more likely to include others, stand up for someone who’s being left out, and build healthier social skills over time.

For 7–10-year-olds — right in the middle-childhood sweet spot, empathy is a skill that can be taught, practised and strengthened. And that’s exactly what Wellbeing Hack #5: Have Empathy focuses on. Empathy helps kids build stronger friendships.

Studies show that children with higher empathy:

• help and cooperate more

• build stronger peer relationships

• are less likely to engage in bullying

• are more likely to defend others rather than stay silent

Empathy works like an emotional seatbelt. It won’t stop bumps in social life, but it massively reduces the impact. In Wellbeing Hacks, Frizz teaches empathy through story, humour, reflection prompts and hands-on activities, so kids learn how to feel, think and do.

Hack #5 Have Empathy: empathy + action = confidence (Feel. Think. Do.)

One of the core teaching tools in Hack 5 is the “Feel, Think, Do” model , a simple, age-appropriate framework that helps children turn understanding into action:

• FEEL – notice and understand someone else’s emotions

• THINK – consider what might help

• DO – take a small action

This approach helps children move past “I feel bad for them” into “I know what to do.” That shift builds confidence, social courage, and stronger peer connections.

The brain chemistry that makes empathy feel good

Hack #5 also explains the feel-good chemical team inside the brain: dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin and endorphins.

Acts of kindness and empathy naturally release these chemicals, helping kids feel:

• more connected

• calmer

• proud of themselves

• motivated to repeat prosocial behaviour

So empathy isn’t just good for others, it boosts a child’s own wellbeing too.

What empathy looks like 

Small moments matter most for primary-aged kids. Hack 5 includes activities where children practise:

• reading facial expressions

• imagining life in someone else’s shoes 

• responding to real-world scenarios using empathy

These activities help kids understand:

• how to comfort someone

• when to include a lonely peer

• how their behaviour impacts others

• what to do with big feelings they see in someone else

Boundary setting

Some children feel too much responsibility for others’ emotions. (We all know a serious empath). Hacks later in the book help kids understand how to build healthy boundaries that prevent overwhelm.

Wellbeing Hack #5 helps kids develop the skills to understand others, act kindly, reduce bullying and develop stronger social and emotional wellbeing.

Through Frizz, Ferguson, stories, quizzes and reflection activities, children practise empathy in a way that is fun, warm and developmentally perfect for ages 7–10. Everything they need is already inside them.

Check out the book now

With support

Lena