Modern Challenge to Raising Empathy

Vicki Johnson Author

Modern life can unintentionally rob children of the daily, face-to-face moments that grow empathy.The

The Quiet Threat to Empathy

You love your kids. You want them to grow into kind, compassionate people. But here’s the hard truth: even the most loving, well-intentioned caregivers are parenting in an environment that makes empathy harder to grow.

Dr. Bruce Perry explains that empathy doesn’t simply appear, it’s a biological potential that needs repeated, real-time, responsive interactions to develop. Just like a muscle, if the brain’s empathy circuits aren’t used, they weaken. Empathy develops best in consistent, face-to-face interactions.

And in today’s world, we’re swimming in distractions that pull us - and our children - away from those moments.

Three Major Roadblocks to Empathy

Even well-intentioned caregivers are competing with:

1. Screens and Devices
Tablets, phones, and TVs have their place. But too often, they slip from being tools into being stand-ins for human connection. A toddler swiping at an iPad isn’t learning to read facial expressions or interpret tone of voice. Without those face-to-face experiences, the brain doesn’t get the same practice building the neural pathways that support empathy.

2. Busy Schedules
Between school drop-offs, work deadlines, errands, sports, and meal prep, our days can feel like a series of sprints. But empathy needs space to breathe. If every moment is filled with tasks, we leave little room for the quiet, unhurried connection that lets kids notice others’ feelings and share their own.

3. Fragmented Communities
Many families no longer live surrounded by grandparents, aunts, uncles, or lifelong neighbors. Without those natural “extra sets of eyes and arms,” kids lose opportunities to interact with a variety of caring adults, and to see empathy modeled in different contexts. Caregivers, meanwhile, lose vital emotional support, making it harder to be consistently present.

Why This Matters

Perry notes that when children are regularly exposed to these modern barriers, they may have fewer opportunities to practice empathy in natural, relational ways. Their brains are capable of connection, but without those repeated, responsive experiences, the circuits go underused. Over time, this can leave them less able to recognize and respond to the emotions of others....a skill that impacts everything from friendships to future relationships.

Reclaiming Empathy-Building Moments

The good news? We can take small, intentional steps to protect and grow empathy, even in a busy, tech-saturated world.

• Create tech-free zones or times – Choose times of day when everyone’s devices are put away. Meals, bedtime, and car rides are perfect candidates.

• Protect Mini Moments – It doesn’t take hours. Even two minutes of uninterrupted, face-to-face attention can make a difference.

• Use routines as connection opportunities – Hugs before leaving the house, a song at bedtime, a few minutes of shared gratitude before dinner.

• Seek Out Your Village – Even if extended family isn’t nearby, consider joining parent groups, childcare co-ops, or community activities to expand your child’s circle of connection.

Empathy isn’t just taught — it’s caught. It grows when children feel seen, heard, and understood by the people who love them most. In our fast-moving, screen-filled world, that means being intentional about creating space for connection.

The truth is, you don’t have to overhaul your life to make a difference. You just have to notice the moments you already have, and protect them like they matter. Because they do.

It's consistency over perfection that matters. Small, repeated acts of connection are what wire a child’s brain to care about others.

Attribution:
This post draws upon insights from Born for Love: Why Empathy Is Essential—and Endangered by Dr. Bruce D. Perry and Maia Szalavitz (HarperCollins, 2010). Their research highlights how modern life challenges the development of empathy and why consistent connection is vital for children.

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Categories: : Attachment, Bonding, Empathy, Resilience, Stress