Connection between reading and empathy

In this TVO Parents video, York University researcher Raymond Mar explains that reading to children improves their ability to empathize. Apparently, stories encourage children to put themselves in others' shoes, and to empathize with them. It's also helpful for parents to talk with the children about the story and especially the emotional states of the characters in the story.

The study also looked at children's television and movies, and found that movies were better for encouraging empathy than children's television, possibly because families are more likely to watch them together and to discuss them.

Click to play