Empathy

Evelyn's sense of empathy has really developed this month. Since the late spring, she has shown concern for playmates or other children who cry or seem upset. After acknowledging that, yes, the boy or girl looked sad, I reassured her that they would be OK. We watched as the child's mother or father offered comfort. Lately though, Evie has become aware of the feelings of the characters in her books. Whether it is surprise, delight, or sadness, Evelyn takes note of the emotion. When we read this book (below), Evelyn insists that we return again and again to the page depicting the main character's heartbroken state. (The little gosling lost her favorite bright red boots).

Even though the character spots her missing boots on the very next page, Evelyn is practically obsessed with the tear coming from the little pencil and water color eye. She wanted to know what it was, and subsequently learned the words "tear" and "sad."

Eventually, Evelyn lets us move on to the happy ending (spoiler alert: the gosling makes a new friend in the would-be boot thief).