The Development of Perspective Taking in Children
Developing perspective-taking abilities is one of the most important skills for children to learn as it helps guide their relationships and overall emotional wellbeing. This important ability enables children to appreciate another’s point of view, empathize with others, and ultimately understand the impact of their own behaviour on those around them. However, the process of developing perspective taking skills in children is rarely easy. It can require patience, guidance and support in order to foster the necessary emotional regulation and critical problem-solving needed in order for children to effectively acquire perspective taking abilities.
What is Perspective Taking?
Perspective-taking is the ability to consider another person’s thoughts, feelings, and beliefs. It’s the ability to “take a step back” and think about how someone else is feeling or perceiving a situation. Perspective taking requires children to actively engage in reflection and hypothesizing – endeavoring to understand different opinions and points of view. It also requires level of activation of emotion regulation techniques to gain empathy and mental flexibility.
When Do Perspective Taking Skills Develop in Children?
The development of perspective taking abilities in children is a process that typically begins in the preschool and early grade school years – from age three to five. This age range is when children are more apt to practice these skills as they are better able to understand and interpret facial expressions, body language, and verbal communication. With appropriate modeling of positive interactions and good communication skills, children can start to understand the importance of considering other people’s feelings and needs as well as their own.
As children grow and further develop, perspective taking abilities should become more sophisticated and intuitive.
How Can Parents Support the Development of Perspective Taking Abilities
As parents, it can be hard to try to guide a child through the development of perspective taking abilities. However, it is still possible to provide support and guidance. Here, we have provided some tips about how to help your child acquire these important skills:
1. Model Perspective Taking: Parents should serve as examples of how to incorporate perspective taking into their daily interactions. This might involve actively listening to others, considering the needs and feelings of others, and engaging in problem-solving techniques to resolve disputes or disagreements. Modeling these social skills in your own interactions provides children with the necessary guidance they need to practice perspective taking in their own relationships.
2. Use Guided Questions : In order to facilitate perspective taking in children, it is important for parents to engage their child in conversations about other people’s feelings. This may involve asking questions such as “how do you think so and so feels when you do that?” or “what can we do to make them feel better?”.
3. Engage in Role-Playing : Role-playing activities create a fun and safe space in which children can practice perspective taking. This can be done by setting up scenarios in which children can act out different roles or situations. This method allows children the freedom to practice empathy and problem-solving in a structured and guided environment.
4. Practice Emotion Regulation : It is important for parents to model and teach emotion regulation. This includes the use of deep breathing, mindfulness, self-talk, etc. By teaching children effective strategies for managing their own emotions, they can develop the self-awareness and emotional flexibility that is necessary for perspective taking.
5. Provide Positive Reinforcement : Finally, it is important to use positive reinforcement when children use perspective taking to effectively resolve issues and conflicts. Praise and reward their efforts in order to encourage them to continue utilising these skills.
The development of perspective taking skills is an invaluable asset for children. It helps them to appreciate others and develop meaningful relationships. While this may seem like a daunting task, it is important to remember that all children learn at their own pace. With patience, guidance, and support, children can grow to understand the nuances of perspective taking and how to apply these skills appropriately in their day-to-day lives.
If you are looking for assistance in helping your child develop perspective taking abilities, contact us at With You Allied Health for information on our psychology services. New clients can complete a new client form here.
Author: Stephanie Mace, Brodi Killen and Samantha Pearce. Educational and Developmental Psychologist - With You Allied Health Director.
References
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4. Van Hoorn, J., Cortina, K., Broeseker, A., & Volkmar, F. (2002). Social Perspective-Taking Skills in Autism: Developmental Progression and Relationship with Theory of Mind. Development & Psychopathology, 14(4), 839-857.
5. Vygotsky, L. (1978). Mind in Society: The Development of Higher Psychological Processes. Harvard University Press: Cambridge, MA.