In Listening With My Heart, readers are invited to explore the power of empathy, understanding, and emotional awareness. This gentle, heart-centered story encourages children to listen deeply—not just with their ears, but with their hearts—to the feelings of others. With warm illustrations and thoughtful text, it’s a story that nurtures kindness, compassion, and connection for children of all ages.
Learning Opportunities
This story provides opportunities for children to develop social-emotional skills, self-awareness, and empathy. Here’s how you can bring the book to life across different age groups:
Infants & Toddlers
- Emotional Recognition: Use facial expressions and tones to reflect emotions from the story.
- Gentle Touch: Encourage soft hugs or hand-holding to demonstrate caring and connection.
- Simple Words: Repeat key phrases like “I hear you” or “I see you” to model empathetic responses.
Preschoolers
- Feelings Discussion: Ask questions such as, “How do you think this person feels?” or “What can we do to help?”
- Role-Play: Act out simple scenarios from the book to practice listening and responding.
- Art: Create art or drawings, and ask your child how it makes them feel.
School-Age Children
- Journaling: Encourage children to write about a time they listened with their heart or helped someone feel understood.
- Empathy Exercises: Discuss different perspectives and brainstorm ways to show kindness in real-life situations.
- Classroom or Family Circle: Practice active listening by sharing stories and reflecting back what was heard.
Final Thoughts
Listening With My Heart is a heartwarming guide to empathy, connection, and emotional understanding. Whether read at home or in the classroom, it inspires children to pause, listen deeply, and respond with compassion—reminding us all that kindness begins with truly hearing one another.
Written by:
Brittany Kay
Director of Program Quality at Heartfelt Impressions
